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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: kzimmv on May 06, 2009, 06:05:32 PM

Title: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: kzimmv on May 06, 2009, 06:05:32 PM
Hi, 
I recently acquired this beautiful fountain, reportedly from the 1920's and of Italian origin.  I don't doubt that it is Italian glass and believe that it is pretty old.  It's a very large fountain, probably 4 1/2 feet tall and the pottery bowl is about 2' wide.  Right now the fountain is broken down and boxed so I don't have exact measurement.
There is a remnant of a paper label (which I don't have a photo of yet) that would possibly help to identify the maker.  It only shows a blue border with the letter A..the rest is gone.
I appreciate any input that you can offer.  Thank you.
(http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountain1.jpg)
(http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountain2.jpg)
(http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountain3.jpg)
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: Max on May 06, 2009, 06:34:27 PM
Whoa! That is an amazing fountain!   :o :o

Have a look at the GlassGallery, Murano stickers:  http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/thumbnails.php?album=102

...look at Barovier and Barbini, perhaps they might be close.




Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: soledivo on May 06, 2009, 07:16:18 PM
i think I've just died an gone to heaven,
 thats gorgeous,

I can see why Max said Barovier and Barbini, the style of the swans is very similar to a barbini swan I have.   :hiclp: :hiclp:

Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: kzimmv on May 06, 2009, 08:00:08 PM
Whoa! That is an amazing fountain!   :o :o

Have a look at the GlassGallery, Murano stickers:  http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/thumbnails.php?album=102

...look at Barovier and Barbini, perhaps they might be close.






Thank you for your comment and for the website info.  I didn't see a label there that looked like the one on the fountain.  On another website showing labels I found one of the same shape and blue design and it was shown as Frat Toso.  Here is a picture of the fountain's label:
(http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountainlabel.jpg)

Also, what I thought was an A seems to be just part of the border.

i think I've just died an gone to heaven,
 thats gorgeous,

I can see why Max said Barovier and Barbini, the style of the swans is very similar to a barbini swan I have.   :hiclp: :hiclp:



Thank you, I felt the same way when I first saw it!! 
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: TxSilver on May 06, 2009, 11:08:03 PM
The label is one that the Losch's used to have on their site. They identified it as being on a Fratelli Toso piece. I haven't been able to find this label site for a while now, unfortunately. It must have been taken down. The site didn't say the label was or was not exclusive to Fratelli Toso. I wouldn't be surprised if your fountain was done by them.

I love the fountain? Is that a pasta swan on top? Gorgeous!
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: kzimmv on May 06, 2009, 11:47:40 PM
The label is one that the Losch's used to have on their site. They identified it as being on a Fratelli Toso piece. I haven't been able to find this label site for a while now, unfortunately. It must have been taken down. The site didn't say the label was or was not exclusive to Fratelli Toso. I wouldn't be surprised if your fountain was done by them.

I love the fountain? Is that a pasta swan on top? Gorgeous!

Hi, 

Thank you! 
I hope this is allowed, linking to another website, but here is the website where I found the label:  http://www.the-loschs.com/sigitaly.htm

No he's not pasta.  The swan at the top is like the smaller swans but he has individual glass feathers.  Unfortunately, one wing has been broken off and most but not all of the pieces are there.  The pink glass column also has a couple of nasty cracks.  For such a delicate piece, I guess I'm not surprised that it has sustained damage. 
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: TxSilver on May 07, 2009, 12:18:13 AM
Thank you so much for posting the link to the Losch site.  :chky: I have been missing it so much. It is newly bookmarked.

I checked some other fountains that are online. Yours is the best, IMO. Sorry to read the wing is broken, but at least it is mendable. The fountain has so much going on that it would be surprising not to have some damage after all these years.
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: TxSilver on May 08, 2009, 09:16:14 PM
Thought I would add a follow-up in case kzimmv is not back soon. The OP wrote to Fratelli Toso and they verified that the fountain was theirs. The fountain was being discussed on a couple of groups, but the result hasn't made it back here yet. Mystery solved.

One person noticed that the cherubs on swans (or geese) were like the ones shown on Antique Helper. They were auctioned as Barbini for Cenedese a couple of years ago. Attributions can be difficult!
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: ardy on May 09, 2009, 12:35:33 AM
kzimmv

This is such a beautiful object would it be possible to post a couple of maybe larger photo's of it?

I am, like everyone else is, completely entranced with this piece.

Ardy
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: kzimmv on May 09, 2009, 12:40:34 AM
kzimmv

This is such a beautiful object would it be possible to post a couple of maybe larger photo's of it?

I am, like everyone else is, completely entranced with this piece.

Ardy
Hi Ardy...it is mesmerizing!!!  When I saw it I knew I had to have it.....couldn't get it off of my mind...

Certainly, I'll upload some photos and post the links in a moment....
Karen
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: kzimmv on May 09, 2009, 12:48:56 AM
http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountain5.jpg
http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountaintop.jpg
http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountainbase.jpg
http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountaincherub1.jpg
http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountaincherub2.jpg
http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountainrose.jpg
http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountainrose1.jpg
http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountainswan.jpg
http://home.windstream.net/karenzv/photos/fountainlabel.jpg

these are some that I had already uploaded, if you want more or larger or of a different angle, whatever, let me know.
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: antiquerose123 on May 09, 2009, 08:54:27 AM
Gorgeous fountain, just stunning!!! :hiclp: :hiclp:

I may be offer some assistance on your label, not that I have any concrete knowledge of it.......BUT......I think I have a glass item here that has the *same* almost complete label.  My label has the _._._._._._. (line & dot) design around the edges also.

Discussions of my label (and the glass item) are here:    http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,19131.0.html

On the Loschs site (9th row, third over):  http://www.the-loschs.com/sigitaly.htm  they seem to have the same label as I do, but less intact.

Thought I would add a follow-up in case kzimmv is not back soon. The OP wrote to Fratelli Toso and they verified that the fountain was theirs. The fountain was being discussed on a couple of groups, but the result hasn't made it back here yet. Mystery solved.

Question:  with my item having the same label, does that help us at all to help confirm my piece (the figurine) since Loschs says that label is FT, and now you have a confirmation on this fountain, with the same label as on mine.  Does this help to cement the maker of my piece to be also Fratelli Toso?  If so, perhaps we could add this to that posting so that they will always be cross-referenced together.

Hopefully also, the "Mystery of my Figurine" be solved by having this label too, with the loschs site label, and now this fountain all stating Fratelli Toso.

I guess perhaps, I should get my label into the label gallery too... :-[ whoops
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: TxSilver on May 09, 2009, 01:33:44 PM
Yes, Antiquerose, your figurine is probably Fratelli Toso. I was thinking of you when Karen posted a picture of the label. The Loschs are very knowledgeable, so I've always trusted them. If you want to check, you can go to FT's site www.fratellitoso.it. There is a contact email. They normally write back within a couple of days. I was hoping that you were following this thread. Maybe it solved more than one mystery!  :thup:
Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: ardy on May 09, 2009, 11:24:43 PM
Talking about solving more than one mystery. Looking at the close up of the rose the form and structure look very like my gold candlesticks.

Mod:  Here's the link - http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,25530.msg141175.html#msg141175

Title: Re: Murano? Glass Fountain
Post by: antiquerose123 on May 11, 2009, 05:33:52 AM
Yes, Antiquerose, your figurine is probably Fratelli Toso. I was thinking of you when Karen posted a picture of the label. The Loschs are very knowledgeable, so I've always trusted them. If you want to check, you can go to FT's site www.fratellitoso.it. There is a contact email. They normally write back within a couple of days. I was hoping that you were following this thread. Maybe it solved more than one mystery!  :thup:

 Thank you for thinking of me....glad I found this post too.  :hiclp:  I will be so happy to finally solve my mystery, and I hope my label pix will help Kzimmv when finding any other items with sort of partial label.  FINALLY, still being a *newbie* I was able to contribute.   I do see similarities in the way the faces on the fountain look, and my figure...

I am surprised by the amount of Fratelli Toso items I have been able to stumble upon way up here.  I think Birk's Canada sold Italian glass across Canada.

But I must say, that FOUNTAIN has GOT TO BE THE MOST GORGEOUS THING I HAVE SEEN...........< drools >