Hi Dana,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Afredo Barbini was born in 1912 on the island of Murano, Venice, into a distinguished family of glassmakers with deep roots in the Murano glass tradition. He began working at age 13 (1925) at Ferro Toso, and by his late teens had become master glassblower. He worked at several major furnaces and with important designers, including Cristalleria di Venezia e Murano, Zecchin & Martinuzzi, with Napoleone Martinuzzi in particular, which was especially important in shaping his sculptural glass techniques and V.A.M.S.A. (Societa Anonima Vetri Artistici Murano) as partner / master glassblower between mid-1930s and 1944. After WWII, roles with Archimede Seguso, Napoleone Martinuzzi again, Vetreria Vistosi, Gino Cenedese. In 1950, he founded his own furnace, Vetreria Alfredo Barbini, (later reorganized in 1983 into Alfredo Barbini S.r.l.).

He kept innovating throughout his career: thick (massiccio) glass sculptures, “vetro sommerso” techniques (layers of colored glass submerged beneath clear glass), color effects, etc. It was during this time that he made clown figures, though he was by no means the only Murano glass artist to make them.

Signed or labeled Murano sculptures are always more valuable than ones that are not signed. Others like this that have sold at auction have brought prices ranging from $75-125.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

Blown glass clown
Attributed to Alfredo Barbini (Italian, 1912-2007)
20 inches tall
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition.
PROVENANCE: Acquired at auction
$75-125*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia