Murano Glass Toso Vortex Butterfly Bowl

Triple cased 1950s art glass multi-use decorative bowl.

Made by Fratelli Toso in 1950s Italy.  It is unmarked (no label).  Click here to read more about Italian made glass,

The butterfly form, vortex avventurine /aventurine swirls, and the triple cased glass is a classic Toso form, and was very popular in the mid 20th century.

Big, beautiful and useful.  Can serve candy or fancy tidbits.  Classy with flowers, or makes a superb catch-all with four shoots slanting into the bowl to catch your stuff.  Lovely as a candle-holder (remove metal wick holders on candle base before using with old glass).  One of its original purposes was as an ashtray (smoking was terribly glamorous back then). There are 8 "rest" areas between the wings.  Can hold small smokes, cigars and incense sticks.

Weighs 2.75 lbs. Measures 11.5" x 11.5" and is 2.25" tall. Top layer color is a light forest green, middle layer is milk white, third layer is colorless. Gold or copper specks.

Handblown with polished flat pontil area on seat of the base.  Heavy bottom-wear on polished seat area (expected...shows age).  Swirling bits of minerals conclude in the center. There are two tiny trapped air-bubbles and some peppering in the center of the bowl, where the vortex swirl ends.

No chips or cracks.  Glass is unchipped, quality made, squeeky clean. In excellent condition with age appropriate bottom-wear.