Dolce Vita in Glass

With sensational gross proceeds of € 450.000 which is near 100% of the upper estimate range, the Murano Glass auction at Quittenbaum Art Auctions exceeded all expectations. Seventy percent of the offer was sold during the evening sale on Wednesday, 24 September.

Undoubtedly, the vase 'al macchie' by Fulvio Bianconi was the star of the auction, going to an international private collection for € 80.000 gross. The estimate of the vase 'Scozzese', also a creation of the talented Bianconi, was doubled and finally hammered down at € 38.000.

But Quittenbaum does not only stand for Murano Glass of the 20th century. Four delicate lacy glass objects of the 16th and 17th century from an Italian private collection caused a stir on the floor, telephones and internet. The international market itself secured a beautiful bowl, 'a reticello' for many times over its estimate (gross proceeds € 14.600).

Rarities from Ercole Barovier’s life work were also very popular. The large vase 'opalina a fiamma', from around 1957 (estimate € 3.500- 4.500), brought € 19.000 gross, while the vase 'sidero' with its fused rings was worth € 7.900 gross to a private collector.

The cheerfully decorated vase 'Murrine battuto' by Ermanno Toso brought € 8.900. Its décor is quite unusual. As the name already hints, it combines the techniques of the flower-like shaped murrhine and the 'battuto' which originally comes from the area of metal arts. The color of the vase by Carlo Scarpa, also in 'battuto' technique, brings to mind the emerald green waters of the town built on a lagoon. Perhaps this sweet-talked a private collector into paying €16.000 gross for the bell-shaped vase.