Posted 11 years ago
Squeaker
(6 items)
I found these in a cute little Antique store in Charlevoiux, MI. about 20 years ago. I just knew I was very attracted to them. Now that I have been collecting glass for SO many years, I am almost sure these are Murano. One of them still has a foil sticker on it that says "Made in Italy for Bonwit Teller". I know this was...is...a department store, but I think they're best known for their clothing. I have researched this like mad, and can't find out anything about them.
They are very heavy, and one is slightly taller than the other, standing at 7 1/2" tall. They almost appear to be cased in clear glass as seen in the 1st two pictures. Te top of the head is clear. Totally flat polished bottom.
There are no signatures or manufactures marks other than that piece of foil.
Hope somebody out there can clue me in... They are just lovely!
what a pretty pair! well if it is Italian it is probably either Murano or Venice, since they are literally less than a mile apart I don't think there is distinction between two, some glassmakers have shops at both cities.
Some makers do have shops in Murano and Venice, but there is no full scale glass production on Venice. The workshops are all on Murano, which is not a separate city but an island under the rule of Venice prior to the unification of Italy and largely dedicated to glass and glass workers. I believe the glass workers were all exiled to Murano by the Venetian authorities in the late 13th century due to the risk to the island city of Venice from the regular fires, and the need to control the glass makers to preserve their secrets from competitors for the benefit of Venice. So, Venetian glass is technically Murano glass. Murano is quite a sight - definitely worth a boat trip from Venice, for the workshops and the glass museum.