Sabino: French Opalescent Art Glass
Sabino refers to the opalescent art glass created by Marius-Ernest Sabino (1878-1961) at his Paris glassworks. Active from the 1920s through the 1960s, Sabino is best known for small opalescent figurines and decorative objects in an Art Deco style. The glass features a distinctive blue-white opalescence that appears when the glass is held to light, created by the addition of specific chemicals to the molten glass.
History
- 1878: Marius-Ernest Sabino born in Sicily, later moved to Paris
- 1920s: Established glassworks in Paris; began producing architectural glass and lighting
- 1925: Exhibited at the Paris Exposition des Arts Decoratifs
- 1930s: Produced large-scale lighting for the ocean liner Normandie and Parisian buildings
- Post-WWII: Shifted to smaller decorative pieces and figurines that dominate today's collector market
- 1961: Sabino died; production continued under family direction
- 1970s-1980s: Continued production of figurines using original molds; these later pieces are less valued
Identification and Marks
- Signature: "Sabino Paris" or "Sabino France" molded into the base
- Early pieces: May have an etched signature rather than molded
- Opalescence: Genuine Sabino opalescent glass glows blue-white when backlit
- Glass quality: Smooth, well-finished surfaces with crisp mold detail
- Later production: Post-1960 pieces are often lighter in weight and less sharply detailed
Types and Price Ranges
| Type | Description | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Small bird figurine | Opalescent, 2-4 inches | $40 - $100 |
| Cat or dog figurine | Opalescent, various poses | $50 - $150 |
| Female nude figurine | Opalescent, Art Deco style | $100 - $400 |
| Butterfly or dragonfly | Opalescent, detailed wings | $50 - $200 |
| Large figurine or group | 6+ inches, opalescent | $200 - $800 |
| Vase, Art Deco | Molded decoration, opalescent | $300 - $1,500 |
| Lighting fixture | Architectural, pre-war | $500 - $5,000+ |
| Perfume bottle | Figural stopper, opalescent | $100 - $400 |
| Large architectural panel | Pre-war, signed | $2,000 - $10,000+ |
Condition Factors
- Chips: Even small chips are problematic on the smooth opalescent surfaces — they interrupt the light play
- Opalescence quality: Stronger opalescence is more desirable; some pieces appear nearly clear
- Mold sharpness: Early production runs show crisper detail than later pours from worn molds
- Size: Larger pre-war pieces are significantly rarer and more valuable than small post-war figurines
- Surface condition: Scratching or cloudiness diminishes the optical properties
Collecting Tips
- Pre-war (pre-1940) pieces are significantly more valuable than post-war production; architectural lighting and large vases from this period are museum quality
- Small opalescent figurines (birds, animals, butterflies) are the most commonly found Sabino items and remain affordable
- Do not confuse Sabino with Lalique — both produced opalescent glass, but Lalique pieces are generally larger, heavier, and more expensive
- Display Sabino pieces with backlighting to maximize the opalescent effect — this is how they were intended to be seen
- The Normandie lighting panels are the holy grail for Sabino collectors and rarely appear on the market
- Later production (1970s-1980s) using original molds is collectible but brings 30-50% less than equivalent early pieces
- Group collections of small figurines displayed together create substantial visual impact at modest cost