A fabulous large glass charger (or dish) made in Murano, Venice, Italy around the latter part of the 1960s. Measuring an impressive 50cm across, this hand made dish was manufactured by the world renowned glassmaker Alfredo Barbini. The charger uses the same techniques attributable to Alfredo Barbini. One of the techniques he perfected and specialised in throughout the years was the “Massello” technique. This technique is based on stretching hot glass and molding it into a certain shape, allowing the piece to take any form without having to use a glass blowing technique. Another signature style of his was the “Sommerso” technique. He perfected the way in which thick coloured layers of glass were superimposed over each other, fusing each layer so brilliantly that the joining lines seemed non-existent; they were seamlessly turning into each other creating brilliant reflections and amazing color combinations. There is evidence of both these techniques in this glass charger, the deep blue rim fading into clear glass as it approaches the centre and the irregular form of the charger itself, culminating in a design of fish to the centre which is a typical theme with Alfredo Barbini as well as an homage to his Venetian origins.

Alfredo Barbini was a glass artist born in 1912 on the islands of Murano in the lagoon of Venice, Italy, and was one of Murano’s leading figures of the twentieth century. His parents were members of families which had been prominent in the glassmaking industry on Murano for generations as glassblowers and beadmakers.

Following World War II Barbini worked as master glassblower and designer successively with Archimede Seguso and Napoleone Martinuzzi, then became a partner with Vetreria Vistosi and, later, Gino Cenedese. With financial assistance from the firm of Salviati & C., for whom he produced products, he formed in 1950 his own glass firm, Vetreria Alfredo Barbini (reorganized in 1983 as Alfredo Barbini Srl). His firm exhibited his work at the Venice Biennales from 1950 to 1961.

Every single piece made by Alfredo Barbini himself is recognizable thanks to the “A.Barbini” signature impressed on it, while works made by his workshop are signed as only “Barbini” or “Barbini, Murano“. So It is important to note that this hand blown glass charger was NOT just made in the Barbini workshop but it was made by the great man himself.

Moving on to the provenance: the reason we can say so with such accuracy that this glass dish was produced during Alfredo Barbini’s heyday (between 1960 and 1970) is not because the item dated by Alfredo Barbini but because of its very interesting background story. The glass charger was gifted in its own presentation box by General Josip Broz Tito and his wife Jovanka Broz to Mr Brian Doyle who was Chief Justice of Zambia (1969-1975) at that time. In 1970 Tito and his wife visited Zambia for the Conference of the Heads of States/Governments of the Non-Aligned Countries. Mr Brian Doyle passed away in October 2004 in Brazil where he was living with his son, the charger was inherited by his daughter, Deirdre Doyle from whom it was purchased and it is thanks to her accounts that we can trace back its wonderful provenance. Thankfully Mr Brian Doyle also held on to the business cards of General Tito (his title: President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) and his wife which accompany this charger more than 50 years after if was gifted to him.

General Tito was President of Yugoslavia from 1953 until his death in 1980. Although a divisive figure, he is without a doubt one of the most influential figures of the region at the time and his legacy still lives on to this day.

It is difficult to overstate how fantastic it is to find such a wonderful item. It has history, provenance, quality, and ticks every box that any collector seeks. A superb conversation item, decorative, functional and above all it still looks as contemporary today as it did over 50 years ago, a testament to the wonderful workmanship of Alfredo Barbini.

Condition: perfect, even has the original box

Dimensions: 50cm diameter, 3cm high. Box is 58cm wide, 56cm deep, 12cm high