Murano Turtle Figurine

This naturalistic, root-beer brown art glass turtle figurine was made by the artisans of Murano during the mid-1970s. The beautifully hand-blown glass has subtly captured the wavy lines of the turtle legs (top and bottom) as well as the features of its eyes and head. Encased within the central part of the turtle’s shell is an oval orb of goldish earth tones along with dark brown swirls and striations. The visual impact is quite stunning.

The turtle sculpture is in excellent vintage condition. The base of the figurine has a natural opening from the process of hand-blowing the glass. A sticker appears on one of the turtle’s legs that reads “Murano Glassware.”

This delightful turtle figurine would make for a charming housewarming gift or one for a special occasion, such as a birthday, anniversary or holiday. For those who collect art glass, Mid-Century glass, or Murano glass specifically, this superb glass sculpture will add value to such collections.

Murano glass is made on the Venetian island of Murano, which has specialized in fancy glassware for centuries. Murano’s glassmakers led Europe for centuries, developing or refining many technologies including crystalline glass, enameled glass (known as smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicolored glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano are still employing these centuries-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass figurines to Murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers, as well as tourist souvenirs.

Murano is home to a vast number of factories and a few individual artists’ studios making all manner of glass objects from mass-marketed stemware to original sculpture. The Museo del Vetro (or, Glass Museum) in the Palazzo Giustinian houses displays about the history of glassmaking as well as glass samples ranging from the Ancient Egyptian era through the present day.