Collecting anything even slightly rare or artistic in nature is neither quick and easy nor affordable. With that, collecting rare articles can be immensely satisfying given the infrequency items in question become available. The often years-long hunt for a specific piece or a specific series creates an enjoyable journey that can connect you with many learned individuals and take you to new places. Collecting Murano glass is not just about amassing objects, but rather more about the appreciation of the thought process and personal aesthetic of the glassblower and designer. When we surround ourselves with good design, life is plainly better. In this series of articles, I will discuss various tips for having a soft landing into this collecting field, as well as share experiences I have had along the way from which you can hopefully learn. In this first iteration, I will discuss the process of researching, good versus bad sources, which books to buy, and which sources are available at no cost.
When collecting anything, it is vital to conduct proper research and seek out credible sources to ensure you are building a strong foundation for your knowledge base. As we all know, today’s world is full of misinformation and those trying to mislead. You must understand what makes a quality resource and seek out authors, collectors, and sellers that are reputable in the industry. As a general statement, 75%+ of the information you read online about Murano glass is incorrect, incomplete, or blatantly misleading. This also goes for the numerous selling sites available today, both basic and “high end.” I always caution new collectors, as well as old ones, when researching online because most sellers, auction houses, and individuals spewing content do not have a great grasp of this field. They may know a little, but like anything worth collecting, the more you research, the more you realize you have to learn. Look for attributions and assertions that are supported by quality references, which I will discuss later in this article, and then double-check those references. Believe it or not, many sellers and auction houses simply throw a reference title and page number into their listing without giving it a thorough evaluation, seemingly hoping that you will not double-check them, but when you do verify their work the item often does not look anything like the reference.
Despite my harsh words of caution regarding online research, there are things to look for that can truly be helpful. I recommend looking for pieces that have original labels still affixed and for pieces that are signed, whether maker or designer signature or an export mark. This will allow you to have confidence in the maker of the piece, but do keep in mind that labels can be gently removed from one piece and attached to another. So, like everything, take it with a grain of salt and evaluate it as simply another data point. Over the last five years, I have created personal archives of pieces that are labeled or signed. I have around forty files organized by furnace, importer, retailer, and also general export marks. In addition, I archive concretely identified pieces, whether verified by label/mark, book, or archive, that showcase particular glass décor types or color combinations. This documentation has proven to be very helpful as a reference and it is something you can do at no monetary cost.
Your best avenues for quality research are with book sources and archives that hold the original documentation for a furnace or designer. Look for publications by reputable authors such as Marino Barovier and Marc Heiremans, among others, who offer wonderful history and a deep dive into the production of the company or designer being discussed. On the other end of the book spectrum, I would suggest avoiding any publication by Leslie Piña, as her books are often laden with mistakes. When writing her books, she simply relied on the word of the owners of the glass objects she featured and had no real knowledge herself to double-check the attributions. When talking about quality books, many are expensive and can also be difficult to find which creates a significant barrier to entry. However, there are many readily findable in the sub-$100 range. I will include a list of recommended books at the end of this article. All of these will provide good base of historical information, with most targeting the twentieth century. This may seem too obvious to mention, but do yourself a huge favor and read all of the text. Do not simply look at the pictures and read the associated caption. If you just look at the pictures, your knowledge will never exceed the superficial level. I mention this explicitly because I run into many dealers and collectors who, it is obvious, have not read a single paragraph of text given the incorrect assertions they make and huge gaps in their knowledge. Knowing the history of each company, glassblower, and designer and how they often intermingle will give you a deeper understanding and will enable you to recognize various attributes more readily and be more successful in your identification. You will never be able to concretely identify 100% of your pieces, but as you continue your research, you will be able to narrow down the possibilities and present a reasonable conclusion.
Once you have settled your general base knowledge with introductory texts, there are other more specific publications that are important to add to your repertoire. Ones that discuss specific furnaces and designers. These are also listed below. As mentioned earlier, aside from book sources, there are some online archives available for perusal at no cost. I will include those at the end of this article as well. A very important one to bookmark is the Giorgio Cini Archive, which houses the full Seguso Vetri d’Arte archive, as well as portions of others. While a truly wonderful resource, it is still very important to purchase the complementary book “Seguso Vetri d’Arte Glass Objects from Murano (1932-1972)” by Marc Heiremans. This book will give you an immense amount of important historical context and finite details that just are not available explicitly on the Giorgio Cini Archive, as well as an explanation of their catalogue numbering, color and glass technique dating, and label/signature history. The archive paired with the book is a combination that will make research easier and enjoyable. Other great online resources include the Venice Museum of Glass, the V&A Museum website, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art website. As you move forward in your collecting tenure, it is vital that you keep up with advances in research. Just because an attribution was generally accepted at one time, does not mean that in ten years from now it will still ring true. New information is becoming generally available to the public with great frequency today.
In this first iteration of the Getting Started in Collecting Murano Glass series, I touched in numerous good and bad sources and ways to research. Please do not succumb to the fate of the 60 Second Googler who perpetuates misinformation with a cavalier attitude that destroys the history of our beloved glass. Instead, arm yourself with quality sources, question nearly everything, and draw comparisons between all of your data points. There is no single all-encompassing source for research, so legwork must be done on your part to be successful. After all, if it were easy, everyone would be an expert.
Here is a list of suggested publications. I am not affiliated with any of these authors. These are simply texts that we have in our reference collection. There are differing and contradicting points across them all, which is why it is necessary to cross-reference multiple sources to fully understand the histories and timelines. Additionally, there are the periodic errors throughout.
General history:
• Murano Island of Glass by Attilia Dorigato
• Venetian Glass 1890-1990 by Rosa Barovier Mentasti
• 20th Century Murano Glass by Marc Heiremans
• Murano Glass Themes and Variations by Marc Heiremans
Furnace or designer specific. This is not an exhaustive list.
• The series of books offered by Le Stanze Del Vetro on specific designers and furnaces, including Vittorio Zecchin, MVM Cappellin, Carlo Scarpa, Napoleone Martinuzzi, Tomaso Buzzi, Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, and the list goes on. Once you have narrowed your desired collecting parameters such as favorite designer(s) or furnace, you can add those respective books.
• Seguso Vetri d’Arte Glass Objects from Murano (1932-1973) by Marc Heiremans
• Fratelli Toso Murano 1902-1980 by Marc Heiremans and Caterina Toso
• AVEM Arte Vetraria Muranese Artistic Production 1932-1972 by Marc Heiremans
• Il Vetri de Archimede Seguso dal 1950 al 1959 by Rosa Barovier Mentasti
• Art Glass by Archimede Seguso by Umberto Franzoi
• Vetreria Aureliano Toso, Murano 1938-1968 by Marc Heiremans
• Dino Martens Muranese Glass Designer by Marc Heiremans
• Art of the Barovier Glassmakers in Murano 1866-1972 by Marina Barovier
Online resources:
https://archivi.cini.it/centrostudivetro/home
https://www.visitmuve.it/en/catalogo/