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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: shandiane78 on December 03, 2007, 10:35:40 PM

Title: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: shandiane78 on December 03, 2007, 10:35:40 PM
I bought a copy of some old J. I. Co catalog pages (on ebay - more are available too), and guess what? This fantastic sea horse sculpture is in there!

http://tinyurl.com/2rsazx

Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: shandiane78 on December 03, 2007, 11:10:16 PM
These are from the catalog:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/shandiane78/seahorse1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/shandiane78/seahorse2.jpg)

Shannon
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: David E on December 04, 2007, 11:54:38 AM
If you are interested in animals specifically, then there is one book worth looking at:

Animals in Glass: A Murano Bestiary
by Marina Barovier and Attilia Dorigato

ISBN: 88-86502-56-7

Worth shopping around for, as it can vary in price enormously.
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: shandiane78 on December 04, 2007, 06:33:21 PM
Thanks David. That looks like a great book, and I really need to get more!

The real reason I was excited to see this is if it could be firmly attributed to Barovier and Toso (or another well known maker), that would prove that J.I. Co did import from at least one of the famous glass houses. J.I. Co has a reputation for importing "generic" Murano glass, but a piece like this looks very nice to me, and considering how the auction is going, I guess I'm not the only one who likes it!

Shannon
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: shandiane78 on December 06, 2007, 05:12:00 PM
WoW! Did anyone see the finish on this one? Almost $1500!  :o Very interesting considering J.I. Co has a reputation for having imported "generic" Murano glass...
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: David E on December 06, 2007, 05:18:53 PM
Grief, that certainly got a good price, but I think it may be identified to one of the better glasshouses in Murano.
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: shandiane78 on December 06, 2007, 05:49:26 PM
It has been attributed to Barbini/Cenedese (a collaboration). If this could be confirmed, I think it would be proof that J.I. Co, in addition to creating some of their own glass, imported from some of the best glass makers on Murano.
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: svazzo on December 06, 2007, 09:52:44 PM
Hi all,
On an earlier thread, we had mentioned that J.I. Co. did import other glass from Barbini and Toso.
I said that because I have purchased some pieces that are clearly Barbini and Fratelli Toso before with the same label.
But of course, like the Sea Horse piece, they are more refined pieces from the ones you will usually find with that label.
Believe the post was originally done by Anne, who had a conversation with 1 of the owners (J.I.Co.) family members.
Javier
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: shandiane78 on December 06, 2007, 10:01:55 PM
I remember that Javier. If you wouldn't mind sharing, do you have photos of those pieces?

Thanks,
Shannon
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: shandiane78 on December 06, 2007, 10:16:56 PM
Also, I didn't mean to disregard your earlier input. I guess what I'm really hoping to find is a smoking gun...Some kind of proof that can't be argued or explained away.

Shannon
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: svazzo on December 06, 2007, 11:22:10 PM
The only thing we can hope for I think would be a 100% piece that has both a label from J.I.Co. and a Barbini/Barovier/Toso label too. Or, if there is some catalogue out there listing contributions to the gallery or something like that.
Not sure how available that would be, lol

Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: shandiane78 on December 06, 2007, 11:53:05 PM
That's exactly what I would love to find!

I would also be happy to find a piece with the J.I. Co label that is documented in a book or other reliable source as being by one of the famous makers (so maybe you have such evidence?). Or the other way 'round, like with the seahorse. It's in the J.I. catalog, so if had a Barbini/Cenedese or other label, I would be pretty satisfied. But like you said, a piece with a maker label AND a J.I. label would be the ultimate. :-)
Title: Re: J.I. Co Sea Horse Sculpture
Post by: brwvabell on December 14, 2007, 06:41:48 AM
Remarkably similar to my seahorse goblets which have been attributed to Salviati (circa 1840-50's).

Brenda

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/brwvabell/MURANO/th_P1010007.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/brwvabell/MURANO/P1010007.jpg)