Alfredo Barbini

Italian, 1912–2007

Birth placeMilan, Italy

BiographyAlfredo Barbini was descended from Murano glassmaking families through both his parents, the Barbinis having been glass bead makers while his mother's Fuga ancestors were glassblowers. He began his own career (1925) as a glassblower with Società Anonima Industrie Artistiche Riunite Ferro Toso [S.A.I.A.R. Ferro Toso], then joined (1929) Cristalleria di Venezia e Murano as a master glassblower. He later left that firm (1932) to work at a glass workshop in Milan, but returned quickly to Venice as master glassblower with the new firm Zecchin & Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici. He left that firm (1936) for a brief stay at Seguso Vetri d'Arte, but in the same year moved on to become a partner and master glassblower at Società Anonima Vetri Artistici Murano [S.A.V.A.M.], where he remained until 1944. Following World War II he received (1946) a grant for study with Napoleone Martinuzzi and then (1947) joined Vetreria Vistosi for a brief period as a partner. He became (1947) an owner, designer and master glassblower at Gino Cenedese & C. He created a number of modelled sculptures for the firm, including works in the "Acquario" series and those exhibited by the firm at the 1948 Venice Biennale. He withdrew (1950) from Gino Cenedese & C. to found his own firm Vetreria Alfredo Barbini, subsequently reorganized (1983) as Alfredo Barbini S.r.l. He also produced designs (1969-71) on a free-lance basis for German glass producer Gral-Glashütte.

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