Shimmering Sea Life in Golden Glass

This graceful angelfish and appealing seahorse are crafted out of handblown glass accented with flakes of real gold. They are in the tradition of the world renown glass artistry of Murano in Italy, for, in fact, their creators first learned the craft of glassmaking on that famed Italian island.

These delightful denizens of the deep are the creations of the Marcolin brothers during their brief collaboration with Sardinia Crystal in Italy. Josef Marcolin was born in 1933 and his brother Benito Marcolin three years later.  Both studied glassmaking on Murano, moving to Sweden in the 1950s to work with various famous glassworks before starting their own company, FM Konstglas (Swedish for "art glass"). They focused on glass sculptures, combining traditional Murano glass techniques with the clean lines and minimalism associated with Scandinavian design. The factory closed in 1991, the brothers moving to Sardinia, Italy, with the intension of producing a similar lines with Sardinia Crystal. However, by the mid-1990s, Benito returned to Sweden and shortly afterwards Josef moved to Austria.

Both pieces are signed with the Marcolin name and Sardinia, was well as model numbers. 

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

3-6870, 3-6869

 

Birds of a Feather. . .

. . flock together, except in this case these beautiful birds have feathers of glowing glass or crystal.  The first of this fascinating flock are from France, made by the Sabino Crystal Company.  The company was founded by Marius Sabino, who was born in Italy in 1878, but came to France as a child.  He studied at the L'Ecole Nationale des Arts Decoratifs and the Beaux Arts de Paris, and following WWI, founded a factory manufacturing light fixtures.  It was there that Sabino developed his signature opalescent glass with blue and golden tones, depending on the light.  He expanded his production to include art deco-inspired figurines and sculptures.  Sabino died in 1961, but the company continues to produce opaline glass using his designs.  

Some of these charming chickadees carry their original Sabino labels, as well as the company's engraved signature.

Also flying in from France are these frosted delicate doves by Lalique.

This magnificent Murano glass seagull swooping over the curling crest of a wave immigrated from Italy.  Of glimmering glass, this hand-blown bird carries the Murano label and is signed and dated by the artist.

This stylized bird of brilliant blue glass was designed by artist Oiva Toikka and hand made by the Finnish glassware company iittala.  It is the epitome of the simple and clean lines of Finnish design.

Come by Next-to-New to visit these birds before they fly off our shelves to their new homes!