AVEM Glass Identification Guide + Gallery
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Arte Vetraria Muranese, or AVEM (A.Ve.M.) for short, was founded in 1932, by several glassblowers - Antonio Luigi Ferro, his son Egidio Ferro, Emilio Nason, and Galliano Ferro. Giulio Radi was technical director. Some early designs were created by the renowned painter Vittori Zecchin.
AVEM are probably best know today for their very popular and long running Bizantino series, known more commonly by collectors as "tutti-frutti", a range of ashtrays, bowls and vases that was introduced in 1953 by an unknown designer. The Bizantino range is often wrongly attributed to designer Dino Martens, who never actually worked for AVEM, due to a mistake in a popular book on Murano glass.
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AVEM Labels & Marks
Blue AVEM label, reads "AVEM, Made in Italy, Murano".
Red AVEM label, reads "AVEM, Made in Italy, Murano".
Red AVEM label, reads "Made in Italy, Murano".
Red AVEM label with star, reads "Made in Italy, Murano".
Blue Decora import label, reads "A Decora Import, Made in Italy, Genuine Venetian Glass From Murano". Very commonly found on AVEM glassware.
Zanfirico
A multicoloured glass vase with zanfirico filigree, twisted ribbons and copper aventurine. Made by AVEM, pattern number 11897 (1951).
A multicoloured glass bowl with zanfirico filigree, twisted ribbons and copper aventurine. Made by AVEM, pattern number 11891 (1951).
A green and white glass bowl with zanfirico filigree, twisted ribbons and copper aventurine. Made by AVEM, pattern number 11891 (1951).
A pink and white glass bowl with zanfirico filigree, twisted ribbons and copper aventurine. Made by AVEM, pattern number 11891 (1951).
A blue and white glass bowl with zanfirico filigree, twisted ribbons and gold leaf. Made by AVEM, pattern number 11892 (1951).
A labelled example can be seen here.
A blue, green and white glass cornucopia shell shaped vase with zanfirico filigree, twisted ribbons and gold leaf. Possibly made by AVEM.
A similar example, apparently labelled, can be seen here.
Bizantino
A green and clear cased glass shell shaped ashtray bowl. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series, labelled.
Known AVEM factory label, reads "Made in Italy, Murano".
A large red and clear cased glass bowl with curled rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A red and clear cased glass mini vase or match holder with two-way crimped rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A red and clear cased glass basket shaped vase. Made by AVEM, pattern number 15197 (1962), part of their "Bizantino" series.
A large red and clear cased glass vase. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A large red and clear cased glass vase or bowl. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A large red and clear cased glass vase with two-way crimped rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A red and clear cased glass circular ashtray bowl. Made by AVEM, pattern number 12065/bi8 (1953), part of their "Bizantino" series.
A red and clear cased glass square ashtray bowl. Made by AVEM, pattern number 12065/M (1953), part of their "Bizantino" series.
A red and clear cased glass ashtray bowl with two way crimped rim. Made by AVEM, pattern number 12065 (1953), part of their "Bizantino" series.
A green and clear cased glass ashtray bowl with two way crimped rim. Made by AVEM, pattern number 12065 (1953), part of their "Bizantino" series.
A green and clear cased glass square shaped ashtray bowl. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A white and clear cased glass square shaped ashtray bowl. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A labelled example can be seen here.
A red and clear cased glass shell shaped ashtray bowl. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A white and clear cased glass shell shaped ashtray bowl. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A blue and clear cased glass triangle shaped ashtray bowl with three way crimped rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A green and clear cased glass triangle shaped ashtray bowl with three way crimped rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A green and clear cased glass triangle shaped ashtray bowl. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A red and clear cased glass leaf shaped ashtray bowl. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A green and clear cased glass mini vase or match holder with multi-crimped rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A white and clear cased glass mini vase or match holder with multi-crimped rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A green and clear cased glass mini vase or match holder with triangular rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A labelled example of this shape in white can be seen here.
A blue and clear cased glass mini vase or match holder with triangular rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
A red and clear cased glass mini vase or match holder with three-way crimped rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series. Has a generic Murano label with cockerel logo.
A green and clear cased glass mini vase or match holder with three-way crimped rim. Made by AVEM, part of their "Bizantino" series.
Paperweights
A multicoloured glass paperweight with zanfirico filigree, twisted ribbons and copper aventurine. Attributed to AVEM.
Commonly found with Decora import labels, as can be seen here.
A multicoloured glass paperweight with zanfirico filigree, twisted ribbons and copper aventurine. Attributed to AVEM.
A multicoloured glass paperweight with zanfirico filigree, twisted ribbons and copper aventurine. Attributed to AVEM.
Other AVEM Glass
A red and white glass clam shaped bowl with silver leaf inclusions. Made by AVEM, pattern number 13343 (1956).
A labelled example of this design can be seen here.
A pink and white glass clam shaped bowl with silver leaf inclusions, and matching pearl. Made by AVEM, pattern number 13343 (1956).
A red and creamy white glass ashtray bowl with silver leaf inclusions. Most likely made by AVEM.
A Murano glass paperweight, decorated with silver leaf, and red, blue, green and yellow stripes. Made by AVEM, signed to base.
Signed A.V.E.M.
A Murano glass bowl, decorated with silver leaf, and red, blue, green and yellow stripes. Attributed to AVEM.
A Murano purple & blue sommerso glass duck sculpture. Attributed to AVEM, based on a labelled example shared in a Murano Facebook group, which can be viewed here (membership required).
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