The listing, Authentic 1940-50s ♥ Vintage Murano ♥ Italian Glass Clown ☘️ Perfect Condition! ☘️ ~FREE US Ship~ has ended.
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Perfect, authentic Murano (Italian) glass clown. Vintage/antique WITH the original sticker!
I started the bidding low so everyone can play ...
Absolutely perfect with no flaws or chips, this Murano glass clown sculpture is 7 inches tall ~ a perfect size for display!
The label (see photo) features a Venetian gondola. It is from the J.I. company, which imported glass during the 40's and 50's for retail and specialty stores.
This style of small-ish Murano clowns retails for up to $70 in perfect condition, with the sticker. A nearly identical one is on ebay at the moment priced at $55.
This particular piece shows off MANY of the fantastic skills developed by the Venetian glassmakers.
❥ BIG clown feet and buttons
❥ Perfect hands with detailed fingers
❥ Gorgeous clown ball with stretched stripes
❥ Adorable smiling face
❥ Sweet top hat
❥ Ruffled "tutti frutti" style collar
❥ Gorgeous zanfirico style glasswork in the body (also sometimes called latticino style).
Zanfirico is a technique invented by the Venetian glass makers on the island of Murano, Italy. Fine filigree canes are stretched and twisted to form lattice patterns. The Zanfirico technique for more than 500 years, when it was originally known as 'Filigrana a Retortoli'.
Clowns are often made with leftover "end of day" glass .. little blobs of glass that would go to waste, so the the artists dabble together unique and interesting pieces. This clown may have taken many days to complete, since it has so many different styles of glass making included.
I LOVE vintage Italian glass and collect mid-century bowls and ashtrays. It is always fun to figure out when and where something was made ... this is a SPECIAL listing for Listia ... I never see nice mid-century glass here.
Bid early and often, and GOOD luck!