Murano Glass Aquarium Block, ca. 1960
GUEST:
I brought a piece of Murano glass that I purchased in 1964, when I was traveling through Europe on my own. And I brought it back home to Ohio for my mom and dad.
APPRAISER:
Do you remember how much you paid for it?
GUEST:
No more than $50. Maybe $20, $30, $40. I just don't recall. But I know it couldn't have been much.
APPRAISER:
So this is an aquarium. It's actually called an aquarium block.
GUEST:
Oh, okay.
APPRAISER:
And I've always wanted to appraise one of these.
GUEST:
Oh, really?
APPRAIESR: Because I love them. I think it's so clever that, within a piece of glass, you have the fish, you have all the parts, and you don't have to feed it.
GUEST:
That's true, true.
APPRAISER:
And these are pretty famous. They're designed by Alfredo Barbini, and Barbini was born in Murano in 1912, and he came from a family of glass makers. And he worked with all the great glass makers of Murano. In 1947, he became partners with Gino Cenedese. And they started making them around 1950.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
They come in all kinds of sizes.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
This is one of the smaller ones. But it's really a gem. And in this market today, it would probably bring between $700 and $900 in a retail store.
GUEST:
Very good, very good.
Appraisal Details
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