Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Murano & Italy Glass => Topic started by: robertdonelan on January 11, 2016, 11:10:42 AM
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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
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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
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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?
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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:
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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Yeah they were in the Bianconi exhibition in Venice at Xmas along with the four seasons bottles. Very rare both.
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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! :-*
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Andrew, please confirm the source of the image in your Reply #7 above. If it is a copy of somebody else's image then we must remove it (or replace with a URL) as per the Board rules on copyrighted images.
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Thanks to all on the forum. It was indeed Fratelli Toso. Toso have issued us with a certificate of authenticity. Its from around 1895.
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Kevin,
the parrot, cat and horse are all mine. :)
The parrot and horse I know of their origin however the cat still alludes me. I will probably post it one day when I exhaust my own research. ( see one today on rare Whitefriars piece ).
I understand the board rules and be assured all the pictures I post are pictures of ones I own and are part of my collections.
Nice little family of animals don't you think?
Kind Regards
Andrew
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BTW - I am heading towards Cenedese for the cat.
On that note we lost our beautiful Toots today who has been a member of our family for 21 years. She was a black cat and far more stunning than this colourful play. :(
Sad day.
Andrew
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Thanks for the confirmation on pic ownership, Andrew.
Sorry to hear about your loss of Toots.
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Keith,
thank you, appreciated. I love my glass but she was far more loved and also loving.
Kind Regards
Andrew