Topic: Murano millefiori & sulphide paperweight for show + questions.

[Anne E.B.]

For show - my incredibly cheap bargain buy today , to add to my little but growing paperweight collection.  Also, only my second Murano one.
Just a couple of questions as I have never seen one of this type before.  Firstly is it correct to call it a millefiori and sulphide paperweight or do they have another name?
Secondly, roughly how old could it be?   Fortunately it retains its original labels.
Many thanks

[tropdevin]

Hi Anne.

It is not a sulphide: it is a transfer print with a garland of millefiori canes.  Transfer prints are often used for under-glaze pottery designs.  As for age, most of these Murano 'Signs of the Zodiac' designs are from the 1960s - 1970s.  Incredibly cheap is not unexpected - although they are nice enough pieces, they ought to be no more than £15 to £20, so £5 or so would be good!

Alan

[Anne E.B.]

Only £3 - so a good buy
Many thanks for clearing up what it actually is Alan.

[KevinH]

The triangular label is a version of labels used by Ferro & Lazzarini

From GlassGallery, Murano 101 labels ...
http://www.yobunny.org.uk/glassgallery/displayimage.php?pos=-9242
And the thread with the paperweight:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,19434.msg112336.html#msg112336

Note that the company name appears in the the label from the earlier thread but apart from that the details are identical. Also note that the "front end of a gondola" is a motif seen in at least one label used by Fratelli Toso ... so it can't be used as a specific company identifier.

As Alan says, the "millefiori and gold transfer" Zodiac type of weight was made for many years. Perhaps the difference in the labels could point to particular periods? Or maybe not.

Does anyone know whether weights like this are still being made today?