Murano Blue Cased Bullicante Clamshell Ashtray, Alfredo Barbini

Glass : Mid-20th-c. Murano Art Glass

 

This light blue ashtray, made by Alfredo Barbini, consists of several layers of glass including an opaque layer of opaque blue, covered by a layer of controlled bubbles, then tiny sprinkles of gold aventurine, all within a very thick outer layer of clear glass (photo 6). (At the center of the ashtray is a dollop of gold aventurine that looks like a comet [photo 4].) It's 6" long, 5-3/4" wide, and 2-1/4" high. The glass was depressed on two sides, creating its clamshell shape. The controlled bubbles covered by aventurine in this ashtray resembles a pinwheel, without the diamond pattern visible in some of his other bullicante and aventurine ashtrays. There's what looks like a single scuff on the polished base, only three lines (photo 8), and a faint scratch on the exterior about half an inch long (at center of photo 9, headed east). (The ripple in photo 3 is glare. not a feature of the ashtray.)

Item ID: 2285