Vintage glass plate on stand by Barbini.

Unusual plate with white lacquered metal stand. Engraved to the back, Barbini. This plate is decorated using the Scavo technique. The Scavo technique gives the object an antique look. It is made to appear as if they are excavated from under soil. To give the object the matte look of an object buried in soil for many years, it is heated with carbonates and nitrates that decompose with heating. Usually the objects are grey in color. But the ancient look also can be given to various colors. It all depends on the artist. The top area is also decorated using the Aventurina echnique. This is technique in which metal flakes are embedded in glass, when it is in a molten state. When the glass is slowly cooled, it gives out an beautiful sheen. Thereafter it is blown into the required shapes. The shimmer resulting from the metal particles implanted in the glass gives the articles a special look. Since the design cannot be effectively controlled, the artisans named the technique ‘aventurina’ meaning ‘chance’.
The Barbini family goes back a long way. Their story in the Murano Glass industry can be traced back to the XVI century, when the family name was added to Venice’s Golden Book, a book known for containing the crème de la crème of Venetian noble families and the best glass masters, whose guild received special permission to be in the Book. Members of the Barbini family played active roles in Venice’s history for a long time, be it in politics, commerce, or different areas of glass production. Alfredo Barbini’s story, however, starts many centuries later. Born in 1912 in Murano, he quickly became known as a very skillful glass master beginning his career at a famous glass foundry .In 1932, he joined Zecchin & Martinuzzi, a furnace that allowed his creativity to blossom and where he created his most impressive designs over the next three years. This last furnace provided him with more artistic liberties than the previous ones, that focused much more on the technical aspects of glass craftsmanship. He then moved on to work for Seguso Vetri d’Arte for a short period, ending up later on at Vetreria Artistica Muranese Società Anonima until 1944. After World War II Barbini went back to working with Seguso and Martinuzzi independently, gaining more and more experience. In 1948, during Venice’s Biennale and under Cenedese company name, he presented an incredible collection of decorative art glass in “corroso” style mimicking corroded surface effects. n 1950 with Salviati’s economic help, Alfredo Barbini managed to open his own firm, Vetreria Alfredo Barbini. From this year on and until 1961, Barbini was an important presence in many Venice Biennale art exhibitions.