Italy, ca. 1925/30 Red millefiori murrine vase with applied handles 6" h (15 cm)
Vetreria Fratelli Toso was known for its high-quality millefiori murrine vases. This vase is a very nice example of their slightly later production, though still pre-war, as it features the rare lens or window type murrine. It gets its name for having a clear center framed in opaque glass. This type of murrine was only produced for a very short period of time because they had significant production issues, as the two different glass types (transparent vs. opaque) behaved differently while under heat and while cooling. Transparent murrine were reintroduced post-war, but increased technology allowed the production to be commercially viable. Differences in design, execution, and production flaws differentiate the pre vs. post-war examples.
