Topic: D T Olivotti, Murano, woven glass, aventurine, paperweights 1878 Paris

[Frank]

I came across this company that won a Bronze medal at Paris in 1878, but they seem to have vanished as far as the web is concerned?

Listed as making Glass, Jewellery, Bracelets, Earrings, tables mats, necklaces made from woven glass threads. Beads also made from glass threads, partially fused. Toilet bottles of colored, marbled and mottled glasses, Paperwights and fancy goods from aventurine.

Any other information on them? Particularly interested in seeing examples of the woven glass.

[soledivo]

I had a look Frank, is Olivotti a Venetian name. All I kept finding was address names or building names of the same. I did find 1 site which supposedly had a picture of Olivotti glass but it was a problem site, so I wouldn't recommend trying to get in.

Maybe Alex will recognize the name

martin

[Ivo]

By the description it looks like a lampworker doing what we normally refer to as Verre tressé Liégeoise or Verre de Nevers; I'm sure there is a British equivalent that you can relate to.  Try google Image  for "spun glass" and you get a page full.

[Leni]

My goodness!  Thanks to Ivo I think we now know what the process by which my 'knitted' fish was made should be called, Frank!   

[Frank]

Not so, in the later text of the report it specifically states "These articles are not spun...". Then of course there were paperweights in aventurine and toilet bottles. This was one of only five companies singled out for special attention in the Italian section, the others being The Venice and Murano Company, for whom spun glass is mentioned, Salviatti & Co., Davide Bedendo and Macedonian Candiani. The 140 page report was written by a Charles Colné "who has long been practically familiar with the manufacture of glass, and has presented a very interesting view of the subject of the display at Paris, and the practical lessons taught by examination of the European methods and results." From the report it was clear that he knew what he was talking about.

[Frank]

Spun glass, to me, refers to glass fibres Leni. That fish is a form of lampwork in which glass rods are heated and trailed into the design, I think it does sometimes get called spun glass on eBay - but there must be another name for it :huh:.

The work of Madame Jules de Brunfaut of Vienna was mentioned... spun into threads like cotton and woven into fabrics. Sometimes all glass and sometimes with a chain of silk or cotton. As with the glass dresses made by Libbey circa 1893.

[Lustrousstone]

Or as the fibre-glass curtain fabrics of the 1970s

[Ivo]

"woven glass" is a straightforward translation from the French "verre tressé" - which you call spun glass. It is lampworked glass they made.

[Lustrousstone]

Madame Jules de Brunfaut's work would have truly involved spinning, the process of spinning glass threads (and I don't mean continuous filaments) from short lengths of glass fibre had its origins in traditional mill-based cotton spinning processes.

[Frank]

How is lampworked glass made thin enough to weave into fabrics in a practical way. The threads cross at right angles and articles designed for wear though obviously not a dress then, but must be flexible.

Bear in mind it was an American writer very familiar with glass technology describes other work as spun glass but this case specifically as not spun. Maybe, I'll get Allan to feed in. Or does someone know a Italian museum contact that speaks glass in English? I shall also pop a link post in weights in case someone there knows about them.