Large Crimson Red and White Speckled Art Glass Conch Shell Centerpiece Bowl

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A unique vintage Polish art-glass-cased conch shell centerpiece, characterized by its dramatic crimson and white mottled finish and natural-shaped swirl, … Read more A unique vintage Polish art-glass-cased conch shell centerpiece, characterized by its dramatic crimson and white mottled finish and natural-shaped swirl, is crafted in the Style of Murano hand-blown glass. Produced by Polish glass cooperatives, likely Krosno or Makora during the 1980s or 1990s, features a stylized free-form manipulation and a dense interior layer of translucent ruby-crimson cased glass over an enamel-frit snow-white background. While molten, the glassmaker pulled and pinched the upper spine into a dramatic, jagged "spiked" edge line mimicking a nautical conch shape reminiscent of Coastal, Eclectic, or Post-Modern style. The effect is achieved by rolling the hot, molten crismon red gather over a steel table covered in crushed white glass powder (frit) and manipulating the mass before blowing it into full size. The white speckles are not applied after production; they are embedded smoothly beneath a glossy, transparent casing layer, set apart from its brilliant molten red surface. In featuring a flat, machine-ground, completely fire-polished, smooth base ring, a slight circular indentation at the bottom was neatly snapped from the blowpipe. Unlike earlier 1950s Italian Murano pieces, heavily hand-ground, Polish expert shell bowls feature an even, uniform base shelf to prevent the bowl's asymmetric weight from wobbling. Its 17" length presents a bold red-and-white coastal art glass highly prized by interior designers in styling luxury beach house tablescapes, bookshelves, or summer console tables, winter gift giving or food service. See less