An important name in twentieth century Murano glass that we all know and appreciate is Alfredo Barbini. After blowing glass at the esteemed furnaces of Zecchin-Martinuzzi and ASV Barovier Seguso & Ferro, he left to become partner and master glassblower at the newly organized furnace of V.A.M.S.A. in 1937. V.A.M.S.A., which stands for Vetri Artistici Muranesi Societá Anonima, was, in my opinion, a powerhouse in both artistic design and quality execution during this period. They were decidedly different from their peers, making their output highly collected today. Their debut show was at the 1938 Venice Biennale with Artistic Director Erme Ripa. Shortly thereafter, the Artistic Director role would shift to Luigi Scarpa Croce for the 1940 and 42 Venice Biennales. Alfredo Barbini would remain at V.A.M.S.A. through 1946, after which he would move to the newly established furnace of Gino Cenedese.
The two sculptural bowls shown in this article are from the 1938-42 period and both feature the fumato technique, which was developed by Alfredo Barbini in 1938. To achieve this cloudy effect, molten glass was exposed to wood smoke, where it was encapsulated and could also be manipulated into distinct patterns.
The bowl with the scalloped rim has a very thick and consistent fumato layer, which adds a bit of intrigue and refined elegance to the piece, especially since it is paired with a layer of gold leaf. In fact, there are four distinct layers in this piece—green glass, gold leaf, fumato, and then it was submerged in a thick layer of clear glass. I have not seen another example of this bowl or anything remotely similar, making it just a little bit more interesting for me.
The kidney-shaped bowl shows how the fumato layer could be manipulated by the glassblower. You can see distinct striations coupled with single controlled air bubbles. The shade of dark green chosen is simply beautiful and to underscore the sculptural qualities, it was submerged in a thick layer of clear glass. This gives the piece lens-like properties when looking at the fumato technique, as well as a nice heft. For me, it is surprising to think that this ultra modernistic piece was created in the late thirties.
It is difficult to say whether the design of these two sculptural bowls can be tied to either of the early Artistic Directors of V.A.M.S.A., or if they truly were both designed and executed by Alfredo Barbini. Regardless, they are stellar examples of design and execution of the highest caliber. Under both Artistic Directors, there was an emphasis placed on thick, heavy glass, also referred to as “vetro pesante.” Short vases and bowls dominated production, as well as figurative items, whether stand alone or submerged within the wall of a piece. Examining these sculptural pieces, you can easily glean the immense talent of Alfredo Barbini, and it is why these early V.A.M.S.A. pieces are so highly collected today.
As of the publishing date of this article, both bowls pictured are available for purchase on my website.
