Topic: Murano Glass Firgurine

[msiscoe]

Hello,

Does anyone know who made this. It's very well done.

Many thanks,

[ardy]

There is a similar one in Leslie Pina's Archimede Seguso book pg 166. I would not take this as an ID as this one is sommerso. It does have many similarities but it could be a common theme. Beautifully made and I would not be surprised if it was A.S.

[msiscoe]

Thank you for that information. I need to invest in some good Murano reference books. I'm new to collecting these...

I agree, very well made. I don't know if you can tell from the photos, but each fruit in the basket is hand made and attached...

[chopin-liszt]

I'm not versed in Murano or Seguso at all, but these sorts of figures were made by the glassmaster Franco Toffolo, before he came to Scotland.
I have to confess a strong fondness for Mr. Toffolo, I got to know the work he did after he retired and I even saw him once, running through the Strathearn Gallery in Crieff. 

[msiscoe]

Now there's a name I've never heard before....did a Google search with his name, didn't find anything similar to my sculpture, but the internet doesn't have everything ever made...lol

[chopin-liszt]

 
Mr Toffolo was extremely prolific - absolutely addicted to glassmaking and he had skills in very many areas. He couldn't stop even after he retired, he managed to get some space for himself in John Deacons' studio on Thursdays and just went mad, making anything he fancied doing.

I did find a figurine with a fruit basket in a search, but the image is on that stupid pin thing and I'm not, so I can't track it down or find out its origins, or even post a link to it.
it is described as; "Murano Opaline Alass Fruit Seller Figurine Speckled blue dressed woman with polychrome fruit in basket"
I don't know if it's Toffolo or not. Just because he did a lot of fancy and exuberant flamenco dancers doesn't mean he didn't do these much more demure and beautiful fugures either.
I am really quite ignorant about these things. But I like a chance to mention Mr. Toffolo and spread his name to those who haven't heard of him before. He was a legend, even in his own time.

[rosieposie]

Is this the link? Looks like the same maker. . https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pinterest+murano+fruit+seller&client=safari&channel=iphone_bm&dcr=0&prmd=isnv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiNtuSTjpzaAhVJOMAKHRbbD3cQ_AUIESgB&biw=320&bih=460&dpr=2#imgrc=lzUXg20ZKYTFKM:

[chopin-liszt]

That's the one, which is very similar to the original here, but we still can't track any origins or a maker from it.

[BDG55]

I was leaning towards Salviati, who made similar figures from the waist down, until I saw Ardy's example from Pena's book. I too would lean towards Seguso as there are several similarities which points to the two pieces being made by the same artist; the shapes are basically the same, the belts are very similar with both having the same bauble-like design, the cuffs on the arms, the gently bowed out skirt and the crystal cased inner core - yours green and the other pink. I wouldn't concern myself so much with the color as peasant pieces such as yours are not necessarily color specific.   

I don't know if you have access to Pena's book, so here's a photo of the page for you to compare the two.

https://ibb.co/cTpBcS

[msiscoe]

Thank you all for all this information....much appreciated!