Alan

Over a decade ago, I supplied a large amount of marbles to a builder whose client wanted them in a custom kitchen countertop. It has been done - no problem with supply. Owning a swimming pool - you don't want anything but a smooth, continuous pool surface. It would make cleaning a giant pain. Especially in Spring and the height of summer temps.

Place it in a shallow glass of water just covering the piece.

I have never seen the heart before. Its a contemp.

I wish I could be of more help. My thought first went to Jim Cooprider - not due to style...just memory kicking in. Thing is - my recollection is that Jim was a torch worker. This is a tank, cane construction piece. Now that should allow us to sort most "JC" artists out - because most makers are torch workers. The other challenge is that the construction is fairly unremarkable. A lot of artists made pieces that look like this. The construction is fairly straightforward and the glass is standard. No artist-specific styles or techniques shown. Wish I could be of more help. Alan

Maybe if you put an arrow on the photo showing the Onionskin construction, it will help point it out. I assume when you wrote "Mifoi" - you mean 'Millefiori'. I've never heard of a vintage cane handmade marble in which millefiori was included.

Its a Latt with outer bands. There would be no reason to fuse an onionskin cane with a latt cane. Their construction approaches are different: The latt is made in layered stages with a clear core, a latt cane core (pick-up) with outer band (pick-up). The onion is made with frit rolling on a marver. The outer bands on this wonky piece are flat because they were intentionally flattened after the pickup to form ribbons.

End of Cane Latt that should have been discarded.

Among a few others, John Hamon Miller was a constant fixture at show hotels years ago. It was common to see a torch going on the hotel room desk and John was just a slow and steady guy. I spent a fair amount of time with him. At Columbus - he would bring a 5' folding table and set up in the courtyard just outside his room. "Annealing" was done in a 1 lb. Maxwell House coffee can filled with vermiculite. John would say "I think I'm going to do sort of a Golden Rebel-themed pattern" - and then if you stayed long enough - you'd see him change the design subtly from piece to piece....tuning it to his mind's eye concept. One night he said "I'm going to make this Submarine design tonight only - and then never again." Sure enough - you'd never see it again. Here is some of John's hotel room work:

John: I don't know who was making them. It was one of the Ohio shows. The copper pipe was <1/2" diameter. At the time - there was only one person who I had ever seen making/selling them.

I've seen those made. The technique is to make a pseudo-cane with Moretti, twist it a bit and then quickly torch-off segments into a small diameter copper pipe. The glass rolls down the length of pipe (about 3.5') and rounds itself (mostly) and drops out the end.

12 o'clock: Yellow latticino core 3 o'clock: Yellow latticino core 9 o'clock: Divided core Opinion (worth what you paid for it): You'll want to lay off damaged handmades as much as possible - unless you are getting them for a dollar or three.

If anyone has a photo of him - I'd appreciate it.

Thats a light lavender. And yes - I've seen a few.

I'm too busy to ever be bored (Among others....)

If it were me - I'd take the easy way and email photos of anything in question to the Bessets. They know their work and can tell you rather easily without looking at the signature. I'm in Tampa right now and can't take photos. My very small Besset mica pieces are unsigned, as it would deface the piece. Their bas relief engraved cameo pieces as well: I have a very large Besset piece (below) that i don't recall how is signed because it was a special multi-stage production project with another artist (IIRC).

German

A bit odd - but appear German. Pontils are right.

German antique

The ones signed Besett are just that. No guess on the other ones as the styles are not unique to any artist's style. I said "did" because I was at those shows and know them both. I can't say about shows since as I haven't attended those. That show seems to have shifted considerably to almost all torch work.

I don't believe the first few sigs are the same as the last. The last ones appear to be Harry and Wendy Besett. They did attend a few of the Wheaton Village events.

Now that....is poetic.

Given that the 'air" was from glass components (including colorant and other additives) at ~1,500 degrees F - I see bubbles as more of a result of the chemical process - than from ambient air. No-one stirs ambient air into the batch intentionally.

Not Akro to my eye. Not Akro glass, not Akro style mold (top or bottom), no apparent Akro pressed logo, accent glass flow is minimal. Looks like Houze.

Thank you