Topic: opalina fiorentina - snowflake pattern but on a transparent glass vase

[glassobsessed]

I almost dropped these the first time I saw them change colour http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,29702.msg161109.html#msg161109

John

[Anne]

Nice example of colour change here:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,1838.0.html

[paradisetrader]

Your vase contains neodymium which is responsible for the colour change. Search on neodymium / neo / diachroic / Alexandrite for other examples, explanations and discussions. Neodymium is sometimes used in conjunction with other elements.

I'm fairly sure that this pattern, or something very similar, has previously been identified here as being made by Stelvia.  It is more often see in "opalina" glass, a type of glass which is somewhat translucent, though not what we would call "opaline".

[flying free]

thank you Pete.  I thought the maker was Opalina Fiorentina as per the link earlier in the thread, but I shall now go and look up Stelvia. Thanks so much.
m

[Wayne]

Hi, I think Stelvia is the manufacturer name, and Opalina Fiorentina is some sort of brand name, see this label which has both names (sorry I don't have a larger pic):

[Ivo]

Opalina (the Florentine type) is a transparent colour cased over a semi transparent milk glass.   

[flying free]

thanks so much Wayne, Ivo and Pete - so... would I be right in deducing then that the maker is Stelvia and it would only be opalina (the Fiorentina type  ) if it were a colour cased over white.
So.... therefore this is (probably ) a Stelvia neodymium vase?

Ok, off to do some hunting around now.  It's a huge piece of glass.  I'm guessing 70's  for age perhaps?

thanks again - it's much appreciated
m

[flying free]

ah, just found two examples now - Wayne the one on the vase on your site is on a vase which is opaline glass but not cased over white, the other is this one on Art of Glass's photos which is on a neodymium vase but not the same shape as mine -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/art-of-glass/4638992038/in/set-72157624133455382/

-the above label just states Stelvia and then on the ribbon bit of the label says 'Fatto a mano' (handmade? - haven't looked it up)  rather than the Opalina Fiorentina of the previous label example.
m

[glassobsessed]

S.t.e.l.v.i.a.? I wonder what the letters stand for.

John

[flying free]

somewhere on here Ivo listed a huge list of Italian glass makers.  I shall go and see what I can find.
m