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Vetreria Barbieri

Vetreria Barbieri glass - shown below is our current range of vases, bowls and other decorative vintage collectable Venetian glassware by Vetreria Barbieri (also known as V.B. Opaline Florence) of Empoli, Tuscany, Italy.


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 1953. Identification is made using labelled examples, as well as matching patterns and known shapes.

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 two styles, it should become clear which factory they originate from.


New Products For March - Italian Empoli Glass