Miniature Lampwork Glass Penguin with Red Bow Tie

A tiny hand-formed glass penguin, just a fingertip tall, in glossy jet black with a smooth white belly. He has a bright yellow beak and feet, little black flippers held out at his sides, white-ringed eyes and a dapper red bow tie at his neck. The glass catches the light beautifully, with shiny highlights on his head and back. He's a sweet curio-cabinet piece and a lovely addition to a miniature collection or a winter display. He'd make a charming little gift for a penguin lover too. Maker unmarked. He's in good condition.

Little glass animals like this are made by lampworking, where coloured glass rods are softened in a torch flame and shaped by hand. The art is closely tied to Venice, which moved its glass furnaces to the island of Murano to contain the disastrous fires they kept causing in the city. Murano is still famous worldwide for its artisan glass, including tiny animal figurines.