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Uranium Glass Seagull Bird
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Murano Barbini for Salviati Alexandrite
Uranium Glass Seagull Bird
Fish 1950
$1,854.41
£1,350
€1,581.44
CA$2,547.68
A$2,769.84
CHF 1,468.57
MX$33,203.32
NOK 18,664.78
SEK 17,099.47
DKK 11,819.24
About the Item
A large, unusual and dramatic hand blown mid century Murano art glass sculpture of a seagull with a fish on the crest of a wave, attributed to Alfredo Barbini for Salviati and made in Murano, Venice, Italy in the 1950s.
The sculpture describes a seagull on the crest of a wave catching a green fish in the Art Deco style. This particular design is very unusual. What is also very distinctive is that the body of the fish and the eyes of the seabird are made with green Uranium glass that glows under UV light. Uranium glass was banned in Italy from the 1980s onwards, making pieces like this both rare and very collectible. The body of the bird, transitioning from amethyst in the tail through orange and red to amber at the head is created in Alexandrite glass using the traditional Murano ‘Sommerso’ glass blowing technique. Alexandrite (neodymium oxide) glass changes colour depending on the light, from lavender in natural / warm light to a blueish colour under fluorescent or cool white light. The clear wave is depicted with fantastic dynamism and movement, and the flow of the lines of the bird’s form are extremely elegant.
Although unsigned, this glass sculpture was most probably made by Alfredo Barbini for Salviati in Murano in the 1950s. Every aspect is of excellent quality and modelling: notice the sweep of the wave, the elegant lines of the bird’s wings, and how they combine to make a dynamic composition. Alfredo Barbini began learning glass making in 1912 at Abate Zanetti, the design school of the Murano Glass Museum. He worked for Ferro Toso, Cristalleria Murano, Zecchin-Martinuzzi, Seguso Vetri d'Arte and Vetri Artistici Muranesi Societa Anonima, and in 1946 became a partner at Cenedese. In 1950 he founded Barbini Glassworks. Salviati supported him financially in the venture, and in exchange Barbini supplied Salviati with some of the glassware they produced. Barbini has become renowned for his heavy, thick forms which have won him numerous awards. From the 1950s to the 1970s Barbini often did not sign his works – as was common practice in Murano at the time, pieces were labelled with a sticker that often did not survive, as is the case with this piece.
It is in excellent condition with no chips or cracks and only some normal scratches to base commensurate with age.
- Attributed to:Salviati (Manufacturer)Alfredo Barbini (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 10.44 in (26.5 cm)Width: 8.27 in (21 cm)Depth: 6.3 in (16 cm)
- Style:Art Deco (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: CCL2201stDibs: LU9676247190372
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