Murano Glass

Three wonderful 'Battuto' vases by Carlo Scarpa are at once geared up for the start on February 23. A red one, in the classic Asian double-gourd shape, is estimated at €4,000 – 6,000. The asymmetric vase of blue glass with chased-looking 'Battuto' cut for €6,000 – 8,000 and an amber one with opal white layer and horizontal chip-carving (also called 'Battuto') that will be up for €9,000 – 12,000 are extremely rare. Further nice and coveted models by Carlo Scarpa will be on offer between €300 and €2,000.

An early 'Pezzato' vase and others by Fulvio Bianconi can be purchased by auction (estimate €3,500 – 4,000). Carlo Scarpa's son, Tobia, is also present with some lovely pieces. A series of bowls and vases with 'Battuto' pattern must be mentioned, unlike his father, he had the pattern done less structured. An emerald-green goblet, bearing an acid stamp of three lines is estimated at €2,000 – 3,000, a salmon-pink bowl from the same early period at €1,200 – 1,400. A classic black and white 'Occhi' vase makes a run for €1,800 – 2,000. An opaque green 'Occhi' vase is taxed at €2,500 – 3,000 for its rare colour.

Next to the works by the House of Venini mentioned, there is a fine selection of vases after designs by Ercole Barovier. A tall 'Lenti' vase from the year 1940 is on offer for €5,000 – 6,000. Furthermore, Quittenbaum offers a 'Pezzati' vase for €4,000 – 5,000 and a 'Tessere ambra' for €1,800 – 2,000.

A tiny collection of 'Sommerso' vases by Flavio Poli from the 1950s completes the offer. Two models were presented at the X. Triennial in Milan 1954 – a 'Valva' (estimate €2,500 – 3,500) and a simple boat-shaped vase, taxed at €500 – 600.

The earliest works stem from the 1920s. The highlight here is a lovely elephant by Cappellin from the year 1929, estimated at €3,000 – 3,500. An elegant vase of shades of white with combed 'Fenicio' pattern, from the House of Zecchin-Martinuzzi, is from the year 1932 (estimate €5,000 – 6,000).

The timeline ends with an extremely important unicum vase by Lino Tagliapietra from the year 1996, estimated at €15,000 – 20,000 and a vase by famous architect Ettore Sottsass, 'Marito e Moglie', from the year 2003. It was made as part of a limited edition of 99 pieces and is estimated at €7,000 – 9,000.

The success of the previous two sales continued on Thursday, February 23, the day of the Murano Glass auction. Two thirds of the offer sold successfully, many pieces experiencing considerable price increases in the process

The battle started already in the beginning, an American collector fighting a German collector over a large, green 'Pulegoso' bowl by Napoleone Martinuzzi. The hammer fell at € 7,500 in favour of the German bidder, all but quadrupling the piece's lower tax. 90% of the works by architect Carlo Scarpa were sold. Three vases in 'Battuto' technique received the highest prices. A Swiss collector allowed € 8,000 for a slightly asymmetric blue vase, an amber 'Battuto' vase will travel to the USA for € 12,000 and a garnet red 'Battuto' will go to Italy for € 7,000, each exceeding their respective estimates lightly.

Only two of 19 pieces by Fulvio Bianconi were bought in. As expected, a very nice 'Pezzato' vase received the highest hammer price and went for € 3,500 into a French collection. A German collector secured himself an 'A fasce orizzontale' vase for € 2,500.

More considerable hammer prices were received for the works of Ercole Barovier. Among the highlights was a 'Pezzati' vase, taxed between € 4,000 and € 5,000 that will return to Italy for € 5,500 and a 'Lenti' vase from the year 1940 that went to a Swiss collector for €5,200 (estimate: € 5,000 – 6,000).