Murano Glass

Auction 183B

14. October 2026 at 3:00 PM CEST

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08. October 2026 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Catalogue

All lots

We are looking forward to a Murano glass auction featuring over 140 lots, which will take place on 14 October.

All the manufacturers are represented with significant designs – Venini, Barovier, Fratelli Toso, Seguso, Aureliano Toso and A.Ve.M. After the Second World War, fuelled by the economic boom and the influx of tourists to the lagoon city, Murano experienced an unparalleled surge in creativity: new techniques and decorative motifs, as well as bold colour combinations, came to dominate glass production. Unique artistic pieces are not only exhibited at art biennials but also marketed internationally. The most popular field of experimentation is and remains the vase – just as the chair is constantly being reinvented in design. But of course, it is not simply a matter of designing a container for flowers. It is about the form itself – at Venini, Fulvio Bianconi invented the 'Forati' series as well as the famous 'Fazzoletti', which are reminiscent of handkerchiefs unfolding. In this auction, Quittenbaum is offering a rare cube-shaped vase with raised shoulders by Fratelli Toso. Although the cuboid shape suggests heaviness, this vase is as light as a feather. Red glass with dark violet flecks fused into the body, underlaid with white; the small circular rim is accentuated in dark violet with scattered gold leaf. The craftsmanship and sophistication justify the estimated price of between €7,000 and 9,000.

Despite the use of coloured pigments and metal foils, transparency remains important, as sunlight causes the glass to glow or shimmer. Examples of this include Ercole Barovier’s vases from the 'Diamantati', 'Intarsie', 'Argo' and 'Athena Cattedrale' series, of which there are fine examples in the auction (estimates between €1,000 - 4,000). Alessandro Pianon’s orange 'Pulcino' gets its puffed-up appearance from the melting of glass chips.

Carlo Scarpa is represented here, amongst other works, by designs from the 1930s for Cappellin and Venini. The handle-vase form is interpreted here in a late Art Deco style and realised in heavily bubbled green 'A bollicine' glass. A classic piece offered by Quittenbaum with a starting price of €3,000. His son Tobia Scarpa, who has worked for Venini since the late 1950s, worthily continues his father’s legacy with new interpretations of the 'Battuto' technique, as exemplified by the 45.5 cm tall 'Battuto' vase (designed 1959–62) in smoky grey, which is estimated at €4,000 - 5,000 and will be offered on 14 October.

Painted or enamelled glassware is rather rare, such as Vittorio Zecchin’s small 'Smalto' vase for S.A.L.I.R from 1940 and Nuto Barovier’s vase in an amorphous shape featuring multicoloured amoeba-like forms, which strikes us as very typical of the 1950s (estimated price €3,000 - 4,000). Another highlight of the sale, inspired by post-war abstract painting, is Dino Martens’ 'Oriente' vase featuring a large star-shaped murrine, which is estimated at €4,000 - 5,000.

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