Topic: Miniature two handled vase with murrines. ID = Fratelli Toso

[mrs vulture]

HI, I bought this little 4 inch vase from a charity shop. Its made from pretty flower shaped murrines in stripes. Its a satin finish with a snapped off scar on the base. Its a bit uneven in shape. The handles are uneven too. The base is hollow inside. I'm thinking Italian, but its not something I have come across before. There was another one in the shop exactly the same shape but very different colours, it had a small chip on the rim so I didn't buy it. Any info would be nice.  It looks to have some age to it.    Thanks Cheryl

[charliepedro]

Fratelli Toso I'd have thought.... early 20th Century too so a wonderful charity shop find! Go back for the other one, a small rim chip is surely acceptable for an item of this age and fragility! These are highly collectable pieces of Murano glass!

Regards, Charlene

[mrs vulture]

Thanks Charlene, I took your advice and went back to the shop this morning for the other one. The chip on the rim is quite small. The murrines on this one are very varied with many different colours. Both very beautiful.    (and very cheap!!)       Cheryl

[charliepedro]

Congratulations Cheryl! These are a great find - You did very well! 

[brucebanner]

Lovely looking vases, i can't believe the other one was still on the shelf when you went back, that was a touch of look.

[mrs vulture]

I had gone back the evening before but the shop had shut five minutes earlier!!    30 mile round trip. They were at the back on the bottom shelf of a locked cabinet so not easily seen. I've had some nice finds in there lately. A lovely uranium green tankard for a pound and a Brockwitz chinapressung trinket pot with lid for a pound. Sometimes find nothing in charity shops for ages. Theres a shelf full of Murano clowns just gone in there very cheaply priced but I'm not too fond of them!!!  Someone will snap them up, they won't be there long.     Cheryl

[KevinH]

Based on images of several Fratelli Toso vases illustrated in Venetian Glass, Confections in Glass, 1855 - 1914 by Sheldon Barr, I will stick my neck out and add a "Fratelli Toso" ID to the thread title!

The items in the book (pages 114 to 119) are all dated as "1900- 1914".

[chopin-liszt]

You might not have paid much - but you've had a lot of work and effort to attain them, not to mention the good taste to spot them in the first place.
Well earned and well deserved. I hope they bring you joy.