Hi Mark,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Pino Signoretto (1944–2017) was one of the foremost Murano glass masters of the 20th and early 21st centuries. He employed traditional Murano glassblowing techniques to create a wide range of sculptures, including animals, figures, and abstract forms. He was particularly known for his ability to create large and complex glass sculptures. His virtuosity in sculptural glass and his role in reviving traditional Venetian glassmaking techniques made him a revered figure both in Italy and internationally.

I've no doubt that you may have paid quite a high sum for this, particularly if you bought it in Venice in the late 1990s, when popularity for Murano glass was at an all-time high. However, interest in Murano glass has changed, with collectors now more focused on more abstract and less figural forms; while this once might have brought a few thousand dollars at auction, now, related pieces of comparable size and form are bringing prices around $500.

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

A near vintage Pino Signoretti blown-glass sculpture
made in Murano, Italy, late 20th Century
Untitled but depicting a male face in relief, in an oval block of glass. Signed.
240mm (9-1/2 inches) x 210mm (8-1/4 inches) x 120mm (4-3/4 inches)
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Purchased from a glass gallery in Venice in 1998
$400-600*
*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