Topic: A Gurgle vase, pinched Mushroom, small dish & Fish bladd

[pyrology]

These are my recent finds that I am trying to find out a little more about before I make any mistakes.

The first is a slumped piece (at least I think that is the term). My heart says not Murano, but someone suggested that it may well be. Has this interesting mushroom color and form with a twist of Art Nouveau and a pinched bottom. The underside has a bumpy texture similar to Higgins Glass, that is why I suspect it is an American piece. Could use some input.
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http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12537138_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12537140_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12537142_o.jpg
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Second, I have this stunning, but small dish with tons of gold flecking in it. I have seen many pieces of Murano glass, but this one caught my eye because of the design. The little kidney shape is so common, but the craftmanship of the way the glass was worked, is just fabulous!
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http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12674136_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12674139_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12674144_o.jpg
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Third, I have this very interesting "Fish Bladder" Vase.  This thing is HEAVY. Cobaly blue glass encased in a heavy layer of clear, with amber shards on the exterior. It is very rough to the touch. It has a ground smooth bottom, which has some amber shards in the center. But it is also ground on one side so that it can lay flat (longways) on a table. It also shows off the layers and the shards and the shards then cast a shadow on the interior of the bowl.  My sone fell in love with it and was carrying it around like a puppy, stroking it! (What kind of kids am I raising? LOL!)
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http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12674113_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12674114_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12674115_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12674118_o.jpg
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And my final piece is this huge, three tiered ewer, in bright red with an applied amber handle and amber rim. It measures 19 inches high. The pontil has me vexed, but the form has lit up my face!
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http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12674108_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12674106_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/12537156_o.jpg
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I would be most grateful for any assistance you can offer.

[Laura Friedman]

Hi Karen,

The first piece does not look Italian to me either.  It almost looks like Higgins glass - did you look carefully for a signature?

The second is most likely Alfredo Barbini, circa 1950s.

The third is new, from China I believe.

The forth is Italian, but probably not from Murano. It looks like the works of one of the companies specializing in molded glass such as Empoli.

Laura

[horochar]

In response to Laura's post, yes, yes, yes and yes.  I'd be interested to know if the 1st is in fact Higgins; there's a great reference book on Higgins (our public library has it) that shows all of their work.  The Barbini bowl is really neat, and looks to be in super condition.  I have a bunch of them, but nothing looks quite like this one.

[glasswizard]

Karen, the proper term for the first piece is dropout vase. It certainly has all the earmarks of Higgins and since your from Chicago, you are certainly in the right place since that is where the studio is located.  You will have to look very carefully for the signature. On these pieces its probably etched and very faint. Terry

[aa]

Karen, the proper term for the first piece is dropout vase. It certainly has all the earmarks of Higgins and since your from Chicago, you are certainly in the right place since that is where the studio is located.  You will have to look very carefully for the signature. On these pieces its probably etched and very faint. Terry

"Dropout" because it would have been first made as a fused sheet, probably circular and in a second firing the disc would have been placed over a mould that had a cavity in the centre, and when heated the rim would have been supported but the centre "dropped out" Always wanted to try that!

[pyrology]

:oops:
I didn't know that about glass. I will remember it for the future and thank you for your assistance with those pieces. I too thought Higgins right off the bat. I'll have to check for a signature.

I also have another fish I am curious about

It looks like a signed Nason piece (actually a pair)
Needle etched signature
Murano
Nason V.

You can find photos here
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/13039719_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/13039720_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/3/9/7/webimg/13039721_o.jpg

The smaller one has a broken fin, but the larger one is in excellent condition. (sorry for the darkness of the photos, raining here today)

Can anyone tell me about them? Are there any good on-line resources for background on Nason?

Thanks again for your help

[aa]

Don't worry. Here is a link to the Higgins story. http://www.higginsglass.com/index.php?m=3

I had the great privilege of meeting them at one of the GAS (Glass Art Society) conferences in the eighties. They were both quite delightful. We had some very interesting conversations over dinner and touched on artists' copyright. Michael Higgins would have some strong views about the Chihuly's litigation about copyright discussed in another thread.

[pyrology]

Laura,

Are you certain about the "Fish Bladder" Vase?

This thing has lots of shelf wear on it and it came from the same household as the Barbini piece.
It could be that they just didn't care for it properly, but I suspect that it is much older. It must weigh 5-6 pounds and it just doesn't feel like imported Asian glass to me.

BTW if anyone is in Chicago the weekend of June 25th I'll be exhibiting at the Chicago Antiques Market , 1300 Randolph St. in the parking lot of Plumber's Hall. I plan to take tons of fabulous glass with me.
Hope to see you there!

[Della]

Hi Karen,

With regard to your question about V. Nason, have a look at this thread:

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,3882.0.html

This is about all the information that was gathered at the time.

[svazzo]

Hello Karen,
I have to agree with Laura on all the pieces.
The first does look like a Higgins piece, the 2nd is Barbini for sure, 3rd is actually being sold on Ebay as old Murano, but its not. Its actually a newer piece. The 4rth could be a Guildcraft piece also.

So June 25th in Chicago? .... hmmm, I havent visited Chicago yet. Maybe this could be a good time to go!

Javier