Submitted by aarAdmin on Thu, 02/26/2026 - 00:00
Mid-century masterpieces by famous artists such as those used by Venice’s iconic Murano glass manufacturer were always going to excite auction-going collectors.
So, it is of little surprise that Melbourne-based Leski Auctions sale on February 25 saw few pieces left unsold. Two hundred of the 245 Murano, Swedish and Finnish glass creations changed hands, many of them above catalogue estimates.
Although a couple of the top estimate pieces were not sold on the day, others achieved a solid result including Fulvio Bianconi’s (1915-1996) a rare circa 1958 Scozzese Murano glass vase for Venini & Co (lot 9) which was knocked down for $16,000.
Archimede Seguso (1909-1999) featured with his circa 1956 Murano glass “Feather” vase (lot 17) at $13,000 and circa 1951 Merletto (lot 20) at $9500, while Alfredo Barbini (1912-2007) also sold his circa 1949 Vetreria Cenedese aquarium glass adorned with four fish (lot 18) for $13,000.
Another famous artist Dino Martens (1894-1970) figured in the top 10 results with his circa 1954 Oriente Murano glass vase (lot 11) selling for $11,000, with Vase Gomitolo (same year, lot 15) and his Eldorado Trombone vase (lot 10), made the year before, each knocked down for $10,000.
A circa 1960 Pulcino baby bird in cube form (lot 24) by Alessandro Pianon (1931-1964) also sold for $11,000 on a $5000-$8000 estimate while his baby bird in dark blue glass (lot 21) was an $8500 return.
A Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) circa 1962 Gufo monumental hand-blown Murano glass creation (lot 1) for E. Constantini, Fucina Degli Angelina featured in the top 10 at $8500. His blue glass winged centaur (lot 3) sold for $5000.
