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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: Martyn K on July 02, 2009, 12:41:10 PM

Title: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: Martyn K on July 02, 2009, 12:41:10 PM
Hi all,


seeking some opinions on my alabastro animal, 36cm (14in) long as the crow flies, retailers label for "Leone Giovanni" who apparently had a shop by the Lac de Como, Bellagio.

I'm guessing he might be a Ferret (but not too confident) maybe made by Archimede Seguso circa 1950s......?

Many thanks,
Martyn.
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: kazleeb on July 02, 2009, 01:35:39 PM
gosh thats gorgeous,kaz
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: johnphilip on July 02, 2009, 03:22:59 PM
Probably an Otter from the lake , not sure about the ears though , mind you both of my Italian mates have funny ears .
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: TxSilver on July 02, 2009, 03:41:00 PM
What a great animal! I don't know what animal it is, with its round ears. Otter or ferret seem good. Did Seguso do alabastro in the 1950s? Most of the alabastro I see from them date late 1960s to early 1980s. I'll bet it is A. Seguso.
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: Martyn K on July 02, 2009, 03:45:56 PM
I wondered about an otter JP it certainly sounds nicer, but the ears do look a bit wrong don't they and otters heads tend to look a bit more streamlined with the body to me...maybe just artistic licence though?

'Tis nice isn't it Kaz.

Don't know if AS did alabastro in the 50s Anita, my guess on the date was more based on the style of the face which has a 40s-50s feel to me....just need to turn up a comparable piece somewhere.
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: TxSilver on July 02, 2009, 04:54:42 PM
I looked in Pina's Archimede Seguso book and she shows some alabastro pieces from the 1950s. One of these days I am going to have to read the words of my books and not just look at the pictures.  :-[
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: Martyn K on July 02, 2009, 05:01:26 PM
I was just about to say Lesley Jackson '20th Century Factory Glass' says A Seguso figurative alabastro scultures late 60's - early 70's so we crossed in mid stream.... :)

How about Mink...popular among the jet set holidaying on the Italian lakes?
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: TxSilver on July 02, 2009, 05:05:56 PM
The tail is so fat, I would say that otter is the best fit. Really, I can't think of any animals other than small rodents and some marsupials that have round ears.
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: johnphilip on July 02, 2009, 07:39:29 PM
The birdseye view screams Otter , but it cant get much otter than today , BOOM BOOM  >:D :kissy: :thup:
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: Martyn K on July 03, 2009, 08:22:17 AM
Low cloud cover and rain today....I think you scared the sun away with that joke..!

Apparently there have been no otters on Lac de Como since the 1950s and very few in Italy at all other than those recently reintroduced. The lake does have a monster though.

There are Alpine Marmots in the area, but I think they look a bit fat (the things you learn buying glass!!)
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: Lustrousstone on July 03, 2009, 11:41:08 AM
I would go with otter, the lack of them in Italy may explain the slightly Mickey Mouse ears and nose
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: Martyn K on July 04, 2009, 12:18:20 PM
A Seguso alabastro Mickey Mouse....that would be something!!

Seems like he's destined to be an otter with some artistic interpretation, which is good, and for the moment attributed to A Seguso.

Thanks for all the help so far.....
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: TxSilver on July 04, 2009, 02:27:20 PM
Another artistic interpretation is the eyes. The eyes look like those of A. Seguso's alabastro cats. Otters have smaller eyes. The cat eyes make the critter look a lot sweeter, don't they?
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: johnphilip on July 13, 2009, 06:14:25 AM
Last night i saw a clip on TV about sea otters while they were swimming their ears were back against the head the way i have seen them but in one shot one was sitting in the water in what looked like a dog begging position and the ears were just like the one on this thread , maybe he was the lookout and also listening like the Meercat so i rest my case . jp  or is it Meerkat?
Title: Re: Alabastro animal...Ferret? A. Seguso?
Post by: Martyn K on July 13, 2009, 08:50:17 AM
OK....you've convinced me, definitely a rare Mickey-Meer-Otter............. ;) now does anyone have one with a makers label attached?