Barbini Glass Identification Guide + Gallery
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Alfredo Barbini began learning the art of glass making in 1912, aged ten, at Abate Zanetti, the design school attached to the Murano Glass museum. He then went on to work for Ferro Toso, Cristalleria Murano, Zecchin-Martinuzzi, Seguso Vetri'dArte and Vetri Artistici Muranesi Societa Anonima. In 1946 he became a partner at Cenedese, and then began Barbini Glassworks in 1950. Some financial assistance for setting up the factory was provided by Salviati. In exchange, Barbini supplied Salviati with some of the glassware they produced. This explains why some known Barbini designs can be found with Salviati labels. Barbini has become renowned for his heavy, thick sculptural forms which have won him many awards. In 1952 Alfredo's daugher Oceania Barbini-Moretti joined the glassworks and became the company's sales manager. His son Flavio became a designer for the firm in 1968.
Sources: 20th Century Factory Glass by Lesley Jackson.
See also: Barbini Glass Catalogues
Buy Barbini Glass Products in our Online Glass StoreBarbini Marks & Labels
"Alfredo Barbini, Murano" blue & silver circular foil label. Used during the 1950's.
"Venetian, Made by Alfredo Barbini For Weil Ceramics & Glass, Murano, Italy" gold & red oval scalloped foil label. Circa 1960's.
Stock label found on Barbini glass. Circa 1950's/60's.
"Barbini, Made in Italy" black & clear rectangular plastic label. Used from the late 1970's.
"Barbini, Murano" black & white rectangular paper label. Age unknown but style matches plastic label from 1980's or later.
"Barbini, Murano" black & clear rectangular plastic label. Used from 1980's or 1990's to present.
"Barbini, Murano" white & clear rectangular plastic label. Used from 1980's or 1990's to present.
"Barbini Murano" signature. In use since the 1970's.
"A. Barbini" signature. In use during the 1980's.
Biomorphic Bowls with Gold Leaf
A creamy white Murano glass "circus tent" bowl with gold leaf inclusions and copper aventurine stripes. Made by Barbini.
A creamy white Murano glass "circus tent" bowl with gold leaf inclusions and orangey red stripes. Made by Barbini.
A pink Murano glass "circus tent" bowl with gold leaf inclusions and creamy white stripes. Made by Barbini.
A black and creamy white Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barbini.
A bright yellow and creamy white Murano glass Mexican hat bowl with gold leaf inclusions and a bolle controlled bubble effect. Attributed to Barbini.
A blue and white Murano glass bowl with gold leaf inclusions and a bolle controlled bubble effect. Made by Barbini.
A red and black Murano glass bowl with gold leaf inclusions and a bolle controlled bubble effect. Made by Barbini.
A red and black Murano glass bowl with gold leaf inclusions and a bolle controlled bubble effect. Made by Barbini.
An orangey red and white Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barbini.
A pink and white Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barbini.
Transparent Cased Biomorphic Bowls
The following range of biomorphic ashtray bowls is attributed to Barbini, based on several labelled examples, and many of the shapes being shown in the Barbini catalogues. As with other Barbini designs, some of these bowls can also be found with Salviati labels, as Barbini supplied Salviati with their glass in exchange for finanical assistance setting up the factory. As part of ongoing research, I've set up a Pinterest board to collect together as many examples from this range as possible, which can be viewed [here].
A blue and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with a bolle controlled bubble pattern. Made by Barbini, labelled.
Label reads Barbini, Murano.
A purple and blue Murano glass ashtray bowl with a bolle controlled bubble pattern. Made by Barbini.
A red and blue Murano glass ashtray bowl with a bolle controlled bubble pattern. Made by Barbini.
A pink and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl. Made by Barbini.
A red and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with a bolle controlled bubble pattern. Made by Barbini. This shape is shown in the Barbini catalogues.
A red, blue and clear Murano sommerso glass ashtray bowl. Made by Barbini.
An orange and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl. Made by Barbini. The same shape and colours can be found online with the factory label.
Reference: [click here].
A pink and clear Murano glass ribbed ashtray bowl. Made by Barbini.
A pink and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl. Made by Barbini. This shape is shown in the Barbini catalogues, and can be found online in different colours with the factory label.
Reference: [click here].
A turquoise green and blue Murano glass ashtray bowl. Made by Barbini. This shape is shown in the Barbini catalogues, and a different shape in these same colours can be found online with the factory label. The same shape in different colours can also be found.
Reference 1: [click here].
Reference 2: [click here].
A red and blue Murano glass ashtray bowl. Attributed to Barbini.
Opaque Cased Biomorphic Bowls
This range consists of shapes similar to the trapsnarent range listed above, but made in opaque colours with a white lattimo middle layer.
A red, amber and white Murano glass ashtray bowl. Attributed to Barbini.
A purple, amber and white Murano glass ashtray bowl. Attributed to Barbini.
A green, amber and white Murano glass ashtray bowl. Attributed to Barbini.
A green, amber and white Murano glass ashtray bowl. Attributed to Barbini.
Geode Bowls
A pink, white and amber glass geode bowl. Made by Barbini, very similar labelled examples online.
Reference: [click here].
An amber and white glass geode bowl. Attributed to Barbini.
Other Barbini Glass
A pink and black Murano glass ashtray bowl with copper aventurine inclusions. Attributed to Barbini.
View more Barbini Glass examples in our Glass Reference Database
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