Pair of Venetian Salviati & C. Zanfirico & Aventurine Wine Glasses 1859-90

Technical Description 

Zanfirico or ‘Vetro a Retorti’ drinking glasses, commonly referred to as a ‘tazza’ (cup) in Italian or ‘romer’ after the German form. Produced by the Venetian glass manufacturer Salviati & C. Murano. Decorated using the zanfirico technique, the pattern includes ‘lattice filigree’ outlined in copper aventurine, alternating with cased aqua blue ribbons. The cup bowl and tall, hollow, trumpet foot are both finished with copper aventurine rims. Rough pontil and slag seed material consistent with its age.

Date & Origin

Island of Murano, Italy, c1859-90.

Condition 

No cracks or restoration. A small slither to the underneath of each glasses foot rim as shown.

Dimensions 

Height:12.5cm  Bowl Diameter:6.cm  Feet Diameter:6.8cm

Comments

Finely executed, this pattern can be found adorning Salviati C. cherub bowls which had been produced by the company c1859-72, by the mid-20th century the pattern was adapted to simple translucent canes, wide unkempt twists with a loose finish.

Zanfirico, which is a synonym for the traditional term “vetro a retorti”, takes its name from the Venetian dealer Antonio Sanquirico, who, in the 1830s, encouraged the revival of this and other techniques.

Traditionally, this technique is known as “latticino,” named for the combination of milk (lattimo) glass threads fused in crystal (cristallo). More modernly termed “filigrana” (filigree).