Mid-Century Murano Glass 'Crab' Bowl From Italy's Swinging '60s

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The swinging '60s were the pinnacle of cool in Italy: think designers like Ettore Sottsass; Fellini films; Sophia Loren in … Read more The swinging '60s were the pinnacle of cool in Italy: think designers like Ettore Sottsass; Fellini films; Sophia Loren in her signature shades.

This authentic handblown collector's piece marks the height of the ancient Murano glass tradition as it collides with mid-century modernity with a burst of form and color.

THE HISTORY: Glassmaking has been practiced in Murano, the Venetian isles, since early in the Common Era.

By the 6th century, Romans fleeing the fall of the Empire brought further experience in the use of glass objects for domestic, religious and decorative purposes. Later, immigrants from Constantinople arrived with expertise luxury glass mosaics and jewelry.

By the 13th century, the importance of preserving local glassmaking traditions was officially recognized by the Republic of Venice, which first forbade glass importation, then sought to further protect these secrets by using the threat of furnace fire in Venice to move all glassworks to Murano where they could be kept isolated.

The glassmakers relocated to Murano were compensated with elevated social status: they were allowed to carry swords; their daughters were permitted to marry into the nobility; they were immune to prosecution. But they were forbidden from leaving the Venice region without permission and the crime of leaking the secrets of Murano Glass was punishable by death.

Important discoveries were made during this time, with new varieties of glass created, such as Master Angelo Barovier's Cristallo Veneziano (the world’s first truly clear glass) and Master Antonio di Pisa's Lattimo (opaque 'milk'), the secrets of which were passed down from generation to generation.

In Murano, it can still take a lifetime to earn the status of Master Glassblower, and the exact techniques used by each small factory or workshop are closely guarded. In general, a ball of molten glass, collected from the furnace, is manipulated at the end of a long glass-blowing rod at high speeds. Lead, cobalt, copper, and iron are introduced to add colours at various points in the process. The final piece is then cut from the blowpipe and placed in an oven to cool.

Glassware can only be called ‘Murano’ if it is handmade in Murano, by that process. Murano glassmaking is protected as part of world culture by UNESCO.

Makes a great housewarming gift -- or little gift for yourself.

PROVENANCE: This mint-condition piece was originally acquired from Murano, and has been owned, by one family.

AUTHENTICITY: Authenticity in vintage Murano is based in two types of marks: one or more (in this case one) pinpoint-sized air-bubbles within the glass; and a small clear spot on the underside of the piece, slightly rough to the touch, where the glassblowing rod was detached at the end of the hand process, known as the classic Murano 'pontil scar,' or 'pontil mark.' (For both, see final photos.) See less