Archive for the ‘Art Glass’ Category

At any given time we endevour to show beautiful modernist glass from Scandinavia, Italy, Czechoslovakia and beyond.

We currently have on display this sculptural ‘Sommerso’ vase in striking red and blue combination created by award winning glass designer Flavio Poli (1900-1984) for Murano based  Seguso Vetri D’ Arte, Italy.

In the years between 1950 and 1960, Poli designed a series of ‘Sommerso‘ glass pieces in a Nordic style – simple forms in a cooler colour range  – which were awarded prestigious prizes (Compasso d’Oro) for Seguso.

We love this example for its simple almost classical form superb quality and vibrant contrasting colour.

Circa 1960

We always endevour to show beautiful mid-century glass from Scandinavia,  Italy,    Czechoslovakia and beyond.

This beautiful ´Soap bubble´ vase created by Per Lutken for  Danish glass factory Holmegaard is one such example.

Per Lutken became chief designer and art director at Holmegaard in 1946, but it was only after visiting the Milan Triennale in 1954 that Lutken pioneered a new modernist design aesthetic. He introduced more free flowing forms in lighter colours such as grey, bronze, green and blue. The resulting designs epitomized the organic shapes that came to be associated with Scandinavian design during the post war years.

The soft undulating forms of his designs reflect an empathy with the material being used and also characterize the Scandinavian idea of ´living glass´.

We currently have a nice little collection of Per Lutken dating from the mid 1950`s to early 1960`s in characteristic organic forms and colours.

Each piece is signed in diamond point on the base.

Feel free to contact us for further info on this collection or if you have any general questions regarding mid-century glass, we are happy to assist.

It is astounding to think that this minimal ´Cylinder´ vase designed by Finnish industrial designer Tapio Wirkkala (1915 – 1985) was first  created in 1955.

The clean lines and simple form look as contemporary today as it did over fifty years ago.

The ´Cylinder´ series was produced between 1955 to 1964 in a number of sizes and colour combinations.

Each vase is mold formed crystal that has been cased to create the colour combination and then precision cut and polished. The end result is a wonderful example of  form, colour and space!

Signed in diamond point ´Tapio Wirkkala 3583´

Illustrated in ´Tapio Wirkkala, Eye, hand and thought´ published by the Museum of Art & Design Helsinki

We are impressed with the sheer vibrancy of this ´Uranium´ technique ´Sommerso´ vase created Antonio Da Ros for renowned Italian glassblowers Cenedese.

In 1959 Antonio Da Ros became the artistic director of Cenedese, a small glass factory based on the island of Murano where he would frequently design pieces using the Sommerso technique, often with ‘Uranium’ green glass which has the unique characteristic of glowing  brightly in ultra violet light!

Circa 1960

The simplicity of form and unique colour  of this vase by designer Nanny Still for Finnish glass company Riihimaen captures the essence of what is truly great about Scandinavian modernist glass.

The Scandinavian approach of ‘less is more’  permeates through out all aspects of design and architecture that emerge from Scandinavia from the 1940′s onwards.

In the case of glass timing is everything and knowing when to stop once a form is created is essential to the modernist aesthetic. The Scandinavians certainly have the gift of reaching the point in the creative process where an amazing form is created and then stepping back, acknowledging nothing further is needed  to improve on the simplicity of the form.

The colour of this vase is also very unique and best described as ‘Teal’,  it is a colour that we seldom see in any modernist glass!

Engraved on base ‘Rihimaen Lasi O.Y. Nanny Still‘ and also with original  ‘Made in Finland’ paper label

‘

We always aim to show our clients beautiful examples of modernist glass  from Scandinavia, Italy, Czechoslovakia and beyond.

We are  excited to present this  very beautiful and rare ´Śommerso´ glass sculpture by virtuoso glass designer Flavio Poli.

The  tear drop shaped sculpture was created for the Italian company Seguso Vetri D´Arte based on the Island of Murano, and is dated around 1950.

The striking coloured layers are known as ´Sommerso´, which roughly translates as ´submerge´ in Italian. This technique was perfected by another skilled glass designer named Carlo Scarpa for Venini back in the 1930´s.

However, it was Flavio Poli, working for Seguso Vetri d’Arte, that became the foremost producer of this type of glass during the mid-20th century.

The process of ´Sommerso´ is a highly skilled one with very little margin for error. It involved blowing a layer of coloured glass and then while still molten dipping it into another contrasting coloured layer. The process is repeated depending on how many layers the artisan requires.  The whole item is then encased in a layer of clear glass. If this technique is executed correctly the colours appear to just float within the glass.

The striking colour combination and the fact that Flavio Poli´s creation of glass sculpture was limited makes this a truly special example.

We currently have this very beautiful light blue cased glass bowl. It is a wonderful example of a type of internal decoration known as ´Graal´ This decoration is achieved by encasing opaque coloured glass between multiple layers of clear or tinted glass to produce complex internal pattens.

The technique was developed by the Swedish glass factory Orrefors in the 1930´s. This piece is attributed to a rival glass factory of the period, either Kosta Boda or Stromberg, Sweden. Dated late 1950´s early 1960´s this piece truly is a miniature glass sculpture!

This cobalt blue footed bowl is a beautiful example of the Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala. The lines are truly modernist and look as relevant today as when it was designed in the late 1960´s. Signed on the base.

Some beautiful examples of Scandinavian modernist glass……