Murano Glass Masquerade Figurine
My gramma was is 70 years old-her parents bought this soft glass piece in Italy around, to the best of my knowledge, around 1940-1950. I am a hard glass artist so I can decipher a few things about this piece-it is a very bottom heavy piece which takes great care to anneal properly-it has no hairline fractures that I am aware of. It is quite large. It is a Masquerade dancer. I wonder if the female dancer had a male glass companion which was sold at another time. I know dark cranberry reds are a more expensive color to utilize. There are air bubbles along with gold foiling throughout the piece and base, called sommerso. If I was to characterize the style of this piece, in my opinion, would most likely resemble the work of Archimede Seguso. It also could very well be created by a random novice Italian glassblower that my grandparents happened to meet and decided to buy his/her work. It is packaged away very carefully because my Gramma always reiterated that it was valuable. There could have been a sticker but its there anymore. I see no identifying mark. It is quite dusty.
11inches high, 7 inches wide
Inherited
Yes
Hi Lex,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Yes, this would have had a companion / male figure and while you occasionally find them being sold separately, they bring more if sold as a pair (there's a premium people are willing to pay if its a complete set.)
Murano is perennially popular and as you can imagine, there's a vast quantity on the market. Demand has not kept up with supply unfortunately, which means that prices are rather low. I do agree with your assessment that this is like the work of Archimede Seguso. While I've not found an exact match to this figure, individual ones by him of this size and complexity bring prices ranging from $300-500 when sold at auction in the last couple of years.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
A vintage Murano hand-blown multicolored glass
manner of Archimede Seguso, mid 20th Century
In the form of a masked female figure with blond hair, pink blouse, full-skirted cranberry colored dress with pink accents, black shoes on a shaped base with gilt accents. Unmarked.
11 inches high
CONDITION: This figure appears to be in good condition. Value assumes no breaks, repairs or losses.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 300-500*
*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
