Vetreria Barbieri (V.B. Opaline Florence) Glass Identification Guide + Gallery

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The glassware items in this section are often found with labels that read "V.B. Opaline Florence, Made in Italy". The initials VB are now thought to stand for Vetreria Barbieri, a factory in or close to the town of Empoli, Italy, that produced glassware during the 1970's and early 1980's. "Opaline Florence" refers to the type of glass (opaline glass made in Florence). The style of label most commonly found on Vetreria Barbieri glass, was also used by other factories from the same area, as the labels were produced by the same label printing company, using the same template and changing the initials of the factory. Some Vetreria Barbieri items have very similar labels that read "Hand, AV, Made in Italy". The initials AV do not match any known factories from this area, and the same label can be found on glass from other Empoli factories, so it is thought that this label belongs to an exporter or retailer, that also used the same printing company. This information about labels and factory initials comes from the facebook group Murano Glass/Italian Art Glass, Empoli, for GLGD, in particular a very helpful lady, whose family has been involved in Empoli glass production since the 1950's. Identification is made using labelled examples, as well as matching patterns and known shapes.

Update: A recent post in a Murano Facebook group of a 1970's catalogue from the Vetreria Artistica Sanminiatello (V.A.S.) factory, has revealed that Vetreria Barbieri was not the only Empoli factory that made marbled designs such as the ones shown below. We will soon update this page with a close study of patterns and shapes, to hopefully discover the differences.

The marbled pattern in particular, is often wrongly identified as Carlo Moretti, a Murano factory (also Italian) that made glassware in a similar pattern. However, when comparing the different styles, it should become clear which factory they originate from.

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Identification by Mould Shape

Matching labelled designs with the same shapes in other patterns can help to identify other pattern ranges where labelled examples may have not yet been found.

Italian V.B. Opaline Florence Marbled Glass Vase, Label

A brown and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri, labelled.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Vase - Labelled

An orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri. Label reads "VB Opaline Florence, Made in Italy".

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Italian V.B. Opaline Florence Marbled Brown Glass Vase

A brown, black and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A blue, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence jug / pitcher, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Vase - Labelled

A yellow, black and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri. Label reads "VB Opaline Florence, Made in Italy".

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Brown Glass Vase

A brown and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Amber Glass Vase

A brown marbled glass VB Opaline Florence jug / pitcher, made in the Empoli region of Italy.

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Vintage Green & Black Glass Vase

A green and black speckled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A blue, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

An orange, green and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Vase - Labelled

A blue cased glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy. Label reads "VB Opaline Florence, Made in Italy".

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Marbled Orange & Blue Glass Vase

A blue, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Italian V.B. Opaline Florence Marbled Orange Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Identification by Patterns

Orange bands with white background, and blue shading:

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Vase - Labelled

A blue, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri, labelled.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Vase - Labelled

Label reads "Hand, AV, made in Italy". Thought to be an export or retailer label.

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Marbled Orange & Blue Glass Vase

A blue, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A blue, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Pale orange bands with white background, and turquoise shading:

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Retro Orange & Blue Glass Vase

A blue, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A blue, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence jug / pitcher, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A blue, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Orange bands with white background, and grey / black shading:

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Retro Orange & Black Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Marbled Orange & Black Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Italian V.B. Opaline Florence Marbled Glass Vase/Jug

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence jug / pitcher, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Italian V.B. Opaline Florence Marbled Orange Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Italian V.B. Opaline Florence Marbled Orange Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Italian V.B. Opaline Florence Marbled Orange Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence jug / pitcher, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Dark brown bands with white background, no shading:

Italian V.B. Opaline Florence Marbled Brown Glass Vase

A brown, black and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Marbled Brown & White Glass Vase

A brown and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri. Same shape with label here.

Grey / black bands with red background, no shading:

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Jug - Labelled

A red, black and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence jug / pitcher, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri, labelled.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Jug - Labelled

Vetreria Barbieri label, reads "V.B. Opaline Florence, Made in Italy".

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Marbled Red & Black Glass Vase

A red, black and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Italian Opaline Florence Marbled Art Orange Glass Vase

A red, black and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Brown, orange and green layers on white background, no shading:

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

An orange, green and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

An orange, green and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Marbled Glass Vase

An orange, green and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

Other Patterns & Shapes

LABELLED V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli White & Brown Glass Vase

A brown and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri, labelled.

LABELLED V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli White & Brown Glass Vase

Vetreria Barbieri label, reads "VB Opaline Florence, Made in Italy".

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Vase - Labelled

A grey cased glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri. Label reads "VB Opaline Florence, Made in Italy".

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Vintage Orange & Black Glass Vase

A black, orange and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Jug - Labelled

An orange and white glass VB Opaline Florence jug / pitcher, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri, labelled.

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Jug - Labelled

Vetreria Barbieri label. Label reads "VB Opaline Florence, Made in Italy".

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Jug - Labelled

A blue and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence jug / pitcher, made in the Empoli region of Italy. Label reads "VB Opaline Florence, Made in Italy".

V.B. Opaline Florence Italian Empoli Glass Jug - Labelled

A red, black and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence jug / pitcher, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri. Label reads "VB Opaline Florence, Made in Italy".

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Retro Green & Brown Glass Vase

A green, brown and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.

V.B. Opaline Florence Empoli Marbled Brown & Green Glass Vase

A green, brown and white marbled glass VB Opaline Florence vase, made in the Empoli region of Italy, by Vetreria Barbieri.


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