Glass Message Board

Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: plordhut on May 10, 2006, 11:06:18 PM

Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: plordhut on May 10, 2006, 11:06:18 PM
I bought this glass vase mainly because I like it BUT the seller said that it was Italian vintage glass dating in the 1970's. I can find no evidence of this so would like to find a little history if possible.
Please help!

Here is a picture of the unknown glass. any help would be appreciated.

http://i1.tinypic.com/zkqzvd.jpg
Title: Unknown Glass
Post by: plordhut on June 01, 2006, 03:37:17 PM
Can anybody help?
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: Tigerchips on June 01, 2006, 05:51:10 PM
Could be a piece of Murano, difficult to tell.

Has the base been applied seperately?
Does the clear glass have a purple or green tint or is it just clear?
Has the base been polished and has it got a pontil mark?

Nice piece of glass and a very romantic picture too, any chance of a lighter picture as it's a bit dark, please?
Title: Unknown Glass Please Help
Post by: plordhut on June 02, 2006, 12:08:25 AM
Answer to your questions:

1) No the base has not been applied separately.
2) The clear glass is just clear
3) The base has not been polished and it does have te pontil mark which I am assuming is the what seems to be the starting point?

I would attach more pictures but yet again have forgotten how to.
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: Max on June 02, 2006, 07:11:19 AM
Hi Plordhut

It's only my opinion, but I think your piece is a fairly generic piece of Murano glass, and I'm not convinced you'll be able to pin it down to a specific maker.  Some Murano pieces do have a concave pontil, and from my experience those ones appear to date from about 1950/60 - that's purely from looking at the design and is not written in stone though. Willing to be corrected!  :wink:

However, I really love large pieces like this, and even if you can't say definitely who designed it, it's still a great looking piece of glass and something to be enjoyed.   :)
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: David Hier on June 02, 2006, 08:20:15 AM
It certainly looks like a piece of 'Murano' to me.

If it had it's original makers sticker, it would certainly make it easiar to identify.

Perhaps you could try posting this in the Murano Society section.

Just a little bug-bear of mine; why do people always identify pieces as being 'Murano'? Murano is an Island (Italian) with many different makers, so labelling something as being Murano is a bit like saying it is English or Stourbridge.

I understand that there are problems in identifying specific makers, but with all the interest in such glass, you would think that someone would have the knowledge to differentiate the work of one factory from another (even though they did copy one another).

Perhaps everyone should refer to such glass as 'Murano School' or something similar?
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: Max on June 02, 2006, 08:35:45 AM
David said:
Quote
Just a little bug-bear of mine; why do people always identify pieces as being 'Murano'? Murano is an Island (Italian) with many different makers, so labelling something as being Murano is a bit like saying it is English or Stourbridge.


Sometimes, when no-one's given an opinion so far, a starting point is useful.  I take on board what you're saying as a fair point though.
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: David Hier on June 02, 2006, 08:39:40 AM
No offence intended, it's something everyone does.

Perhaps it's time for a change?
Title: Unknown Glass
Post by: plordhut on June 02, 2006, 01:41:52 PM
Thank you everybody, you have at least given me an idea. I feel confident I can call it a Murano type glass sculpture/vase.
Its a start and for that I appreciate your help!
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: Frank on June 02, 2006, 02:00:47 PM
It might help if they put 'Italy' instead of Murano on the labels. But then everyone would say why is always called Italian :?
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: Frank on July 11, 2006, 11:46:40 AM
bump and moved to Murano
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: chuggy on July 11, 2006, 07:57:52 PM
Maybe it's just me, but I thought this looked more like Chalet glass.

To pick up on Davids point, on the occasions when I've been selling pieces by a specific manufacturer say Venini, or Seguso I've had people say don't you have any Murano, or doesn't it look like Murano. Many times it's easier to refer to something as being Murano when dealing with the general public. The other problem with using specific factories names if the piece is not well documented is that you will almost certainly be told you are wrong by someone. Whilst there are some superb books on the more notable Murano houses and artists, many as yet remain quite veiled in details of their output.
Then when one takes all the generic pieces into account, the more notable studios were often reluctant to put their names to such pieces, although historically many were made as part of the education process or for orders by specific stores.
I think the Murano field although my first love, is quite possibly one of the biggest minefields in glass collecting and certainly prompts more discussion that any other.
Paul
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: Laura Friedman on July 11, 2006, 10:00:09 PM
I hate to say this, but I really don't think it's Italian at all.  I see a lot of this type of glass around here, in the Southwestern United States.  It is from Mexico, and contemporary.  

Sorry.

Laura
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: Artofvenice on July 14, 2006, 07:51:21 PM
In my opinion it is a Murano glass. I have seen so many pieces made with similar style. My granfather had 4-5 centerpieces with that kind of features (as you can find them in every home of old venetian people).
As written in a previous message, they were popular during '50s-'60s, but they are still produced today from pretty commercial and inexpensive (at least for the Murano standards) glassmakers as Formia or Tfz.

It is true too that there are other glassmakers working with that style. I remember to have seen on the web a brazilian glassmaker of "Murano glass",
but I never have seen them in my hands so I can't tell if they feel as the old murano ones or just they look as.

Sincerely

Alex

 http://www.artofvenice.com
Title: Unknown Glass Need Help
Post by: Della on July 14, 2006, 08:09:55 PM
Hi Alex,

It was lovely to meet you in your fantastic shop  :lol:
Thank you for sending us to the gallery. You were right, there was some beautiful glass on show.  :lol:  :lol: