Topic: Any information on Venini glass vase. ID = Fratelli Toso

[robertdonelan]

My mother in law owns this amazing Murano glass vase. She believes it to be an early Venini piece as it was handed down through the family to her via Gino Poli who worked at Venini in the 1960's. However it might be from a different factory.

It is huge (45cm tall) and has these very large murine patterns as you can see from the image. The base is very rough with three bits of glass where it was attached for blowing and shaping. It is unmarked and not signed.

Any ideas about exactly what it is, age etc?

Bob

[glassobsessed]

Welcome to the forum Bob.

The glassmakers Fratelli Toso would be favourite I believe, they were made circa 1910 so at 100 years old an antique...

45cm is an exceptional size for these vessels, quite special really, most seen are between around 8 and 15cm in height.
Does yours have a matt finish?

John

[robertdonelan]

Hey thanks for getting back. It does have a matt finish. My mother in law was always told that it was a "museum quality piece".

I thought TOSO also, as doing a simple search the nearest I could see were Toso designs on Goggle images. Any idea where I may be able to find a catalogue which may have this in it?

[glassobsessed]

Sorry, no idea. Occasionally you can match the canes, finding exactly the same murine in another vase, either in print or on line. You also find the the same cane shapes but with varying colours.

Yours look like typical FT canes from that time period. Some more examples:

[Gowdod]

Bob,

looks decidedly Fratelli Toso to me. Here's a few smaller versions.

Due to it's size, it is a highly valuable vase and I would suggest one of the major auction houses may best support you in confirming your research to date.

Kind Regards

Andrew

[Gowdod]

Bob,

Schiffer have published a book by Leslie Pina, Fratelli Toso, Italian Glass 1854-1980. You'll find many examples in there. I've looked and the largest in there is 33.5cm high, so as you say you have a real whopper.

Kind regards

Andrew

[robertdonelan]

Hi Andrew,

I overegged it a bit. Ours is indeed 33.5cm tall. I have been in touch with Toso and they are going to issue a certificate for it which involves finding the pattern in their archives. Caterina Toso thinks its from around 1900-1905.

Could you look at my other two posts which you might find interesting. They are with this post. We have Bianconi four seasons bottle and gallo e gallina. Just had a quote of £8K for the pair!!

Thanks for your time and the book reference.

[Gowdod]

Bob,

I think the birds look fantastic, I've not found any in all my glass hunting.

I have found these. 

I'll have a look at the bottle now.

Kind Regards

Andrew

[robertdonelan]

Yeah they were in the Bianconi exhibition in Venice at Xmas along with the four seasons bottles. Very rare both.

[Anne]

Andrew (Gowdod) would you please rotate your images before uploading them? Having them side on gives problems of seeing them for many users, especially those using mobile devices with auto-rotate functions. Ta!