FM Konstglas / Marcolin Glass Identification Guide + Gallery

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Josef Marcolin (b 1933) and Benito Marcolin (b 1936), learned their glass making skills on the island of Murano, Venice, and later moved to Sweden to work at the Glimma glassworks in 1954, then Reijmyre 1956-61, before starting their own company, FM Konstglas. Several of the same designs can be found from both Reijmyre and FM Konstglas. FM stands for Färe-Marcolin, a combination of the brothers' surname and the maiden name of Josef's wife, Inga-Lill Färe (married in late 1950's). Inga-Lill's father Bror Färe was a businessman, and it is thought that he helped to fund the company, which would explain the inclusion of his surname in the company name. "Konstglas" is Swedish for "Art Glass". At first, they rented space at Eneryda glassworks. Glass produced while at Eneryda can be found with labels which read "FM Konstglas, Eneryda". They set up their own glassworks in 1961, in the Swedish town of Ronneby. Labels then read either "FM Konstglas, Ronneby" or "FM Konstglas, Ronneby, Sweden".

FM Konstglas / Marcolin pieces are often signed, including a pattern number, on the base, which consists of the initial of the designer, and model number of the item, sometimes followed by the size of the item. The size was given in millimetres up until 1983, when the size was instead given in centimetres, both in the signatures and price lists. Designer codes include: M - Josef Marcolin, B - Benito Marcolin, and F - Inga-Lill Färe. Production was mainly glass figurines, with a unique blended style of Swedish and Murano. They also produces other glassware such as vases, bowls and perfume bottles, using traditional Murano techniques such as millefiori, sommerso and zanfirico. These can easily be mistaken for Murano glass if not found with labels. The company changed its name to FM Marcolin Art Crystal in 1983, and in 1988-89 changed again to Marcolin Art Crystal. The Swedish factory closed in 1991, and production was moved to Sardinia, Italy, in collaboration with Sardinia Crystal, with the intention of producing the same products, however this didn't last long. The Marcolin brothers left and went their separate ways, Benito moved back to Sweden, while Josef moved to Austria and continued production under the name Marcolin Art Crystal. Update - Josef passed away in 2015, aged 82. The website for Marcolin Art Crystal no longer works, so it is possible the factory has now closed (needs confirmation).

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Marcolin / FM Konstglas Glass Fish - Signed + Labelled

A clear Swedish glass fish sculpture. Made by Marcolin Art Crystal, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M224, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas / Ronneby / Marcolin Glass Fish - Signed

A clear Swedish glass fish sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B850, signed.

FM Konstglas Neodymium Lilac & Blue Glass Fish B850 - Signed

A blue, lilac and clear Swedish neodymium glass fish sculpture with sommerso effect. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B850, signed.

SIGNED FM Konstglas Neodymium Lilac & Blue Glass Fish B852

A blue, lilac and clear Swedish neodymium glass fish sculpture with sommerso effect. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B852, signed.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Signed Neodymium Swedish Glass Whale

A blue, lilac and clear Swedish neodymium glass whale sculpture with sommerso effect. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B878, signed.

SIGNED FM Konstglas/Ronneby Neodymium Glass Whale #B878

A green, lilac and clear Swedish neodymium glass whale sculpture with sommerso effect. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B878, signed.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Glass Penguin - Signed + Labelled

A Swedish clear glass penguin sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B715, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Glass Penguin - Signed + Labelled

A Swedish clear glass penguin sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B856, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Glass Millefiori Vase - Label

A blue and white Swedish glass millefiori vase. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Silver Leaf Glass Apple - Label

A clear Swedish glass apple paperweight sculpture with silver leaf inclusions. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.

SIGNED FM Konstglas/Marcolin Black & White Glass Cat

A black, white and clear Swedish glass cat sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B4, signed.

SIGNED FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Glass Bear - Label

A clear Swedish glass bear sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M4301, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Signed Neodymium Glass Bird

A green, lilac and clear Swedish neodymium glass bird sculpture with sommerso effect. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B860, signed.

SIGNED FM Konstglas/Ronneby Neodymium Glass Bird

A blue, lilac and clear Swedish neodymium glass bird sculpture with sommerso effect. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B860, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Neodymium Glass Bird/Toucan

A green, lilac and clear Swedish neodymium glass toucan sculpture with sommerso effect. Made by FM Konstglas, unmarked.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Signed Neodymium Glass Bird

A blue, lilac and clear Swedish neodymium glass bird sculpture with sommerso effect. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B850, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Swedish Glass Bird - Labelled

A Swedish clear glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Neodymium Glass Bird - Labelled

A Swedish lilac / blue neodymium glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Blue Glass Bird - Labelled

A Swedish blue glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Neodymium Lilac Glass Bird - Labelled

A Swedish lilac / blue neodymium glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Amber Glass Bird - Labelled

A Swedish brown glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M-250, labelled. Named "Pippi" (birdie).

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Blue Glass Bird - Labelled

A Swedish blue glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M-250, labelled. Named "Pippi" (birdie).

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Brown Glass Bird - Labelled

A Swedish brown glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M-250, labelled. Named "Pippi" (birdie).

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Red Glass Bird - Labelled

A Swedish red glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M-250, labelled. Named "Pippi" (birdie).

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Green Glass Bird - Labelled

A Swedish green glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M-250, labelled. Named "Pippi" (birdie).

Pair of FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Blue Glass Birds

A pair of Swedish blue glass bird sculptures. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M-250, labelled. Named "Pippi" (birdie).

FM Konstglas / Ronneby Swedish Gold Leaf Glass Bird

A Swedish clear glass bird sculpture, with gold leaf and controlled bubble pattern. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M-250. Named "Pippi" (birdie).

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Swedish Blue Glass Mouse - Labelled

A Swedish blue glass mouse sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Glass Seal - Signed + Labelled

A black and clear Swedish glass seal sculpture with blue speckles. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M333, signed and labelled.

SIGNED FM Konstglas / Ronneby Cream & Black Glass Bird

A black and cream Swedish glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, pattern number R3, signed.

LABELLED FM Konstglas / Ronneby Neodymium Glass Bird

A Swedish lilac / blue neodymium glass bird sculpture. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.

LABELLED FM Konstglas/Ronneby Neodymium Glass Penguin

A green, lilac and clear Swedish neodymium glass penguin sculpture with sommerso effect. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.


Fumato Glass

The feathered bubble effect shown in the pieces below, has for a long time been wrongly referred to as "sfumato", which in glass terms means a gradual change of shade, however it has recently been discovered that the correct term would be "fumato", which means "smoked", a technique which involves exposing the glass to smoke from a fire, to give the glass a smoky colour by picking up particles of unburnt ember and ash from the smoke [ref]. This has been confirmed on a Swedish glass forum [here], where a glassblower who worked for FM Konstglas/Marcolin, described the technique they used, involving smoke, to create this effect. It is thought this error originates from the glossary section of the book "Italian Glass, Century 20" by Leslie Pina, where sfumato is described as "Technique producing a smoky effect by enclosing fine inner veils of color in the glass."

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Fumato Glass Eagle - Signed

A Swedish grey and clear glass eagle sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, signed.

FM Konstglas / Ronneby / Marcolin Glass Bird - Signed

A Swedish grey and clear glass bird sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, pattern number R1, signed.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Fumato Glass Bird/Duck - Signed

A Swedish grey and clear glass bird sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M501, signed.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Fumato Glass Bird - Signed & Label

A Swedish grey and clear glass bird sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, pattern number L7, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Swedish Fumato Glass Bird - Signed

A Swedish grey and clear glass bird sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, pattern number R3, signed.

SIGNED & LABELLED Marcolin/FM Konstglas Fumato Glass Bird

A Swedish grey and clear glass bird sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by Marcolin, pattern number V019, signed and labelled.

Marcolin / FM Konstglas Glass Bird - Signed M501

A Swedish grey and clear glass bird sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by Marcolin, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M501.10, signed.

Marcolin / FM Konstglas Glass Bird - Signed + Labelled

A Swedish grey and clear glass bird sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by Marcolin, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B52, signed and labelled.

SIGNED & LABEL FM Konstglas / Marcolin Fumato Glass Elephant

A Swedish grey and clear glass elephant sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, pattern number M588, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Fumato Glass Owl - Signed

A Swedish grey and clear glass owl sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, pattern number C691, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Swedish Fumato Green Glass Swan

A green and clear Swedish glass swan sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas. Has generic "Made in Sweden" label.

FM Konstglas/Ronneby Fumato Glass Swan/Bird - Label

A grey, mber and clear Swedish glass swan sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, labelled.

Large FM Konstglas/Marcolin Glass Fish - Signed + Labelled

A grey and clear Swedish glass fish sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number B850, signed and labelled.

FM Konstglas/Marcolin Fumato Glass Swan - Signed #D40

A grey and clear Swedish glass swan sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Benito Marcolin, pattern number D40, signed and labelled.

Marcolin / FM Konstglas Fumato Glass Tortoise - Signed #M77

A grey and clear Swedish glass tortoise sculpture with bubbly fumato technique. Made by FM Konstglas, designed by Josef Marcolin, pattern number M77, signed.


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Reference Websites

For more information on FM Konstglas / Marcolin glass, check out the following resources:

www.marcolinartcrystal.com