Glass Message Board

Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: flying free on October 30, 2012, 07:18:09 PM

Title: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on October 30, 2012, 07:18:09 PM
I'm in shock.  I've never before bought anything I could identify so quickly or definitely. I just decided to trawl Gardner and Barr just in case...and there it was.  Sadly it has damage but honestly I don't care.  I have only one other piece of Venetian Glass and now this one (hope the link works).  The eyes are the same as well, black on milk glass so apparently it is an early piece.  I'm so excited, can't wait for it to arrive.  I'll post pics when it does.
http://www.gardnerandbarr.com/home1.html?gallery

oops the link doesn't work but if you wish to scroll through it's about half way through and called as per the title. 
m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: glassobsessed on October 30, 2012, 10:42:04 PM
Looking forward to some photos m.

The gallery has just provided a clue to one of my bits too.  ;D

John

Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on October 30, 2012, 11:32:28 PM
I'm just looking forward to seeing it in real life to see whether or not it is for real and not reproduction.  The only other example I can find is on the Gardner and Barr site and they reference one in the catalogue.  I've not managed to find a single other example.  I can post current pictures but they aren't that great and I''d rather wait til it arrives and I can see for myself.
It has damage and repaired damage so I'm keeping fingers crossed ;D
 m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on October 31, 2012, 09:12:22 AM
pics with their permission
I will post some more when I collect it.
I think (hope) there is a good chance it is original and it will be lovely to hold it and see the thickness of the glass etc. despite the damage  :)
m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: keith on October 31, 2012, 01:59:30 PM
I saw that and thought about bidding but the phone bill is due and I gave in to common sense,although this is rare,I wondered if it was Salviati,the foot and colour remind me of my tiny vase,id'd as one of 'his' ;D well the colour might be a bit different ::) ;D ;D
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on October 31, 2012, 03:48:07 PM
thanks Keith. That's a very sweet piece.  The one I've bought is 9" high I think.  Really looking forward to seeing it now.
m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on November 02, 2012, 03:06:20 PM
Well it's arrived and I feel pretty sure it's an original Salviati piece.  It's been through the wars but the dolphins faces are mostly ok and the serpents face is fine along with tongue! - hopefully a great reference piece.  It measures 9 3/4" tall and 3 3/4" at widest point v. the G&Barr 10", there are slight differences in the execution of the Dolphins tails for example and the windy way the handle is applied but I think these are creative execution differences and acceptable.  Otherwise I'm fairly confident this is an original piece.  Thoughts anyone?
  The eyes on the dolphins look black on one of them but on the other two are very dark ruby/amethyst.  The handle is fantastic in the Vetro a retorti as per the Gardner and Barr example - beautiful.
Weighs 450grms or 16oz. 
Does it look and sound right?
m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on November 02, 2012, 03:10:05 PM
more pics
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: keith on November 02, 2012, 03:11:38 PM
Wish I had bid on it now ::) ;D ;D looks great ;D
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on November 02, 2012, 03:17:35 PM
thank you  ;D - I'm glad you didn't bid of course  :D
m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: keith on November 02, 2012, 07:00:21 PM
 ;D ;D
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on November 03, 2012, 10:55:49 AM
I've been through the entire net and also the Museo del Vetro catalogue of approx 550 pieces of Salviati 19thc glass and apart from the one picture at Gardner and Barr I cannot find another example of this ewer or pitcher.  I think it must be very rare now.  There are  few ewers/jugs in the collection in comparison to tazzas/beakers/goblets -  Out of 550 pieces I found 54 ewers.  Reassuringly many of the pieces in the archive are very damaged so I don't feel bad about my jug at all.  Mine has a hole in one side that seems to have been a long burst stretched bubble - there are some large bubbles in the glass.  I found very similar damage on another piece in the collection and the same with large bubbles.  Some do not have feet, others are fragments only now and some have more damage than mine.   
My ewer seems to have an interesting repair on the neck where the handle joins - done with clear glass somehow.  There is one Dolphin face that is completely intact which is a great reference.  The serpents top part of it's mouth (is that a lip lol?) is chipped at the end but it does mean you can see the gorgeous red tongue. 

I've linked to another vase that has a serpent on it where you can see the eyes and the face of the serpent are very similar to mine. Same time period of 1866-1873
And one which has dolphins with ruby eyes. Again same time frame.

It appears mine is about 140yrs old this year - I hope I haven't just jinxed myself only to discover it's a reproduction  ::)
I will be looking after it very carefully from now on :)  I've sent an email to Gardner and Barr to ask if they have any more information.  I'll add if they get back to me.
I've will add some more close up pictures
http://www.archiviodellacomunicazione.it/Sicap/ShowDialog.aspx?TITLE=VIEWERTITLE&TBL=OA&ID=321360&Ext=jpg&Folder=&MODE=VIEW&OPAC=DEFAULT&WEB=MuseiVE

http://www.archiviodellacomunicazione.it/Sicap/ShowDialog.aspx?TITLE=VIEWERTITLE&TBL=OA&ID=303553&Ext=jpg&Folder=&MODE=VIEW&OPAC=DEFAULT&WEB=MuseiVE

m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: chopin-liszt on November 03, 2012, 11:39:19 AM
I'm so green with envy it's taken me this long to comment without spluttering or being vitriolic because you have it and I don't - I've been repeating and repeating my mantra of "what a friend has is never lost" and it's finally sunk in enough for me to say,

Congratulations, well done, I'm so pleased and happy for you, it's gorgeous and glorious and fabulous and fascinating!
(Honestly.  :-* :-* :-* )
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on November 03, 2012, 06:25:32 PM
 :D  thank you.  It's going somewhere safe (not be knocked over as I did with a beautiful perfect antique vase last week  :-[ - does that make you feel better  ;D )
m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: chopin-liszt on November 03, 2012, 07:18:34 PM
I feel better that you've put it somewhere safe;  ;)
the other thing is a shame and I'm sorry.   :-*
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on November 05, 2012, 05:36:09 PM
Sheldon Barr has come back to me very kindly and confirmed this is a Salviati piece.
I'm now off to get a copy of his book "Venetian Glass, Confections in Glass, 1855-1914," Harry N. Abrams, 1998
m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on August 07, 2019, 09:44:20 PM
A green and aventurine version in the Hermitage Museum :)

https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/wcm/connect/1530b662-5c74-4913-91fc-a1cbe1e8d040/i_1f.jpg?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE-1530b662-5c74-4913-91fc-a1cbe1e8d040-mn8XZQG


https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/wcm/connect/9d8c588f-08cd-400f-976d-74eb28af8bcd/i_2m.jpg?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE-9d8c588f-08cd-400f-976d-74eb28af8bcd-mn8muUN
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: glassobsessed on August 08, 2019, 03:38:18 PM
Wow, fabby in green.

This is the only image I have of this one in aventurine and girasol, it is cropped from a group photo and sadly it looks like I forgot to keep any others. Naughty...

John

Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: flying free on August 08, 2019, 03:42:19 PM
were they all the same ewer?  or different pieces?

I could not find any at all online anywhere including in the museum in Venice online collection.
That green one is the first one I've found.

I remember Sheldon Barr saying mine was an early one iirc.


m
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: glassobsessed on August 08, 2019, 03:56:50 PM
That was my understanding of the predominantly aventurine pieces as well, much more 1860 to 1870 than 1890 and later.

Bought those four all on the same day a couple of years ago at Newark, from three different dealers I think.
Title: Re: Salviati serpent and dolphins pitcher 1866-1872 -
Post by: glassobsessed on August 19, 2019, 07:06:48 PM
Found another photo, much larger file size that will hopefully preserve more detail.