Topic: Help required - Murano Afro Celotto or Luca Vidal abstract ? 55 cm high

[Murano54]

Hi all , first post here so hi to everyone . Picked this abstract piece up yesterday in a Uk Antique shop whilst on hols here from NZ . Its unsigned but has a label saying “ item no 4267 , size 22” 55cm “ .after a lot of google research i have narrowed it down to Murano Master glass makers - either Afro Celotto and Luca Vidal. Anyone out there familiar with their work . Any help appreciated , cheers Gary

[catshome]

Hello Gary, and welcome.

Lovely big piece! Any chance of a picture of the base?

Thanks
Cat

[Murano54]

Thanks Cat , base is completely flat and unpolished , thanks again ,Gary

[Murano54]

And another photo

[chopin-liszt]

I'm afraid the unpolished base in conjunction with the lack of finess in the latticino and then adding the random bubbles, is all making me think this is contemporary Chinese glass rather than anything by a masterglassmaker.

[Murano54]

Thanks so much Sue , sometimes you have to take a gamble with glass pieces  . didn’t pay too much for it , cheers Gary

[chopin-liszt]

Sometimes you win! Chinese glass is getting better and better all the time - they have taken mastermakers from Poland to teach the makers properly.
I'm afraid I don't like the centre part of the "wheel" of the canes either - if it were by a master, it would all be neat. I was quietly very suspicious until I saw the base, and thought it is time to voice my thoughts. (Murano isn't my area)
I would also have though if it were a major piece by a master, it would have been signed.
It is still very decorative.

[KevinH]

Mod: Duplicate thread removed from the Murano & Italy forum.

Having more than one thread for the same item causes confusion if replies are added to each thread. When an ID is confirmed, the thread will be moved by a Moderator to the appropriate "country" forum.

Taking my Moderator hat off, I think Sue has raised iportant points. I would add that I feel the whole vase looks too "dull" to be Celotto or Vidal. But several of the latticinio do look close to some used in Vidal items. The other main point I am wary about is that the neck appears to be "falling over" rather than delicately poised as with Vidal items of a similar structure (as seen on the internet).

As for the base finish, I would not rule out a non-Chinese source! What is really needed is a base photo of authentic Celotto / Vidal pieces.

[chopin-liszt]

I do agree about the non-polished base not neccessarily being Chinese. 
 - it was "everything together" that had me speaking up.

[Murano54]

Thanks for your replies . Have found examples from both glassmakers and they seem to polish their bases and sign too . Could possibly be an apprentice piece or very early experiment but doubt these ever got released into the market . Thanks Gary