A SPECTACULAR AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL LARGE MID-CENTURY MURANO GLASS TWIN PHEASANT / BIRD OF PARADISE SCULPTURE, standing an impressive 17 inches high.

This extraordinary centrepiece depicts two exotic birds incorporated into a single sculptural composition, rising together from an elaborate free-form branch or tree-like base richly worked with shimmering gold leaf.

The birds are beautifully hand formed in soft pink opalescent glass, with extensive gold leaf inclusions creating wonderful warmth, depth and movement as the light passes through the sculpture. Their bodies rise into beautifully modelled heads with applied features, while the spectacular elongated tails combine clear glass, pink opalescent tones and generous quantities of gold.

This is not simply a pair of separate Murano birds placed together. The two birds, their tails and the branching base have been conceived as one large and complicated sculptural group, giving the piece tremendous presence and making it interesting from virtually every viewing angle.

The sheer amount of gold is particularly striking. Thin gold leaf has been incorporated into the hot glass during manufacture and captured within the sculpture, producing a wonderful golden shimmer throughout the birds, their sweeping feathers and the organic base.

One particularly charming detail is the positioning of the two birds looking in different directions. It gives the composition life and movement.

As we keep chickens ourselves, this immediately reminded me of their natural behaviour — while one bird is occupied, another is invariably keeping watch. Cockerels in particular seem to spend half their lives looking skywards for danger! Whether the Murano glassmaker intended this little piece of avian realism I cannot know, but it certainly adds to the character of these two magnificent birds. ☺️

The workmanship required to produce a sculpture of this scale and complexity is considerable. The long pulled feathers, applied details, extensive gold work and substantial sculptural base all demonstrate the skill of the Murano glassmaker.

Together they create a wonderful statement piece of mid-century Venetian art glass — flamboyant, elegant and quite impossible to ignore.

ATTRIBUTION & RESEARCH

The sculpture is Murano, Italy, mid-20th century, probably circa 1950s–60s.

Large sculptural pheasants and Birds of Paradise were an important part of mid-century Murano production, and closely related bird sculptures are associated with major makers including Archimede Seguso and Alfredo Barbini.

There are particularly interesting comparisons with documented and attributed Archimede Seguso pheasants, including examples employing pink/opalescent or alabastro-type glass, extensive gold leaf, elongated pulled feathers, applied head details and sculptural branch or tree-form supports.

Archimede Seguso was particularly celebrated for his animal sculptures, and comparable Seguso pheasants of the period are illustrated in specialist literature and collections.

There are also stylistic similarities to the work of Alfredo Barbini, another of Murano’s great masters who produced highly accomplished sculptural birds during this period.

However, no surviving factory label or signature is present on this particular sculpture, and I have not yet located a definitive catalogue illustration of this exact twin-bird model. I have therefore deliberately listed it simply as MURANO rather than make an absolute maker attribution which cannot presently be substantiated.

Please see the comparison photographs included with the listing for examples which have assisted my research.

Further information is always welcome — one of the pleasures of owning and researching Murano glass is that there is invariably more to discover.

GOLD LEAF

The wonderful golden decoration is created by incorporating extremely thin sheets of gold leaf into the hot glass during manufacture. The gold becomes captured within the glass rather than simply being painted onto its surface.

This technique was used to magnificent effect by the great Murano houses during the mid-20th century and is particularly successful in large sculptural pieces such as this, where the folds, curves and varying thicknesses of glass cause the gold to sparkle differently as the viewing angle and light change.

MEASUREMENTS

Height: 17” / 43.2 cm

Width: 6½” / 16.5 cm

Depth: 6” / 15.2 cm

CONDITION

Excellent vintage condition with no chips, cracks or significant damage noted.

There may be very minor surface or base wear commensurate with age and display. Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.

A glorious and exceptionally unusual piece of Murano glass — two magnificent golden birds with enormous presence and certainly not a sculpture inclined to sit quietly in the corner!

PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING

I believe that honesty is the best policy, and I strive to describe every item to the best of my knowledge and belief. All photographs are of the actual item being offered for sale and form an important part of the description.

The majority of my items are vintage or antique, not new. As such, they should be expected to show signs of age and use appropriate to their years. Minor wear, surface marks, rubbing to gilding and other age-related characteristics are entirely consistent with genuine period pieces and should not be regarded as faults.

Any significant defects, such as chips, cracks, repairs, losses or other condition issues beyond normal age-related wear, will always be clearly described and illustrated in the photographs. If you would like further information or additional images, please do not hesitate to ask before purchasing.

I thoroughly research every item and share my findings as accurately as possible. Antique research is an ever-evolving field, and opinions can differ. I welcome additional information from fellow collectors and specialists, as there is always something new to learn.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure complete accuracy, it is always possible that I may overlook a minor age-related detail. Naturally occurring manufacturing imperfections, light surface scratches and honest wear acquired through decades of use are all part of an item’s history and character.

PACKING & SHIPPING

I have extensive experience packing and shipping fragile antiques, including museum-quality glass, to destinations throughout the world. My packing is frequently praised in customer feedback, and every item is professionally over-packed to ensure it arrives safely. For particularly valuable items, I use eBay’s International Shipping service, providing additional protection for both buyer and seller.

Please note that much of my stock is stored off-site. Whilst I always endeavour to respond promptly, please allow up to two working days for replies to questions or requests for additional photographs.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS

I do not ship directly outside the United Kingdom.

All overseas orders are sent exclusively through eBay International Shipping. Please note that the shipping charges and any import duties or taxes are determined by eBay, and I have no control over these costs. Please ensure you are happy with the total before committing to purchase.

If you wish to purchase multiple items, please contact me before buying. In many cases, items can be combined into a single shipment where permitted by eBay’s International Shipping service.

Finally, please take a look at my other listings, where you’ll find a constantly changing selection of antique and vintage glass, Asian works of art, cloisonné, silver, bronze, copper, porcelain, horn carvings and many other interesting collectables.

“Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten.” That old saying has guided me throughout my years of collecting, and I hope you’ll find something here that gives you as much pleasure to own as it has given me to discover.

Thank you for visiting CONNOISSEUR’S CHOICE, and thank you for looking. 🤗