Glasstudio Filigrana Vase Duo by Mario Colelli & Hertha Bengtson for Rosenthal, Germany, 1980s, Set of 2

Details

Description

Rosenthal Glasstudio Filigrana Vase Duo by Mario Colelli & Hertha Bengtson, Germany, c. 1980s

An exceptional pair of hand-blown glass … Read more Rosenthal Glasstudio Filigrana Vase Duo by Mario Colelli & Hertha Bengtson, Germany, c. 1980s

An exceptional pair of hand-blown glass vases from Rosenthal Glasstudio, created through the collaboration of Murano master glassmaker Mario Colelli and Swedish designer Hertha Bengtson. Produced as limited editions, these sculptural works unite the technical virtuosity of Venetian filigrana glass with the restrained elegance of Scandinavian modern design.

Designer: Hertha Bengtson & Mario Colelli

Manufacturer: Rosenthal Glasstudio

Country of Manufacture: Germany

Period: c. 1980s

Material: Hand-blown crystal glass

Technique: Filigrana (Fadenglas)

Colours: Clear, black, amber-brown

Finish: Glossy

Dimensions

Large vase:
Height: 26 cm

Diameter: 18.5 cm

Opening: Approximately 2 cm

Small vase:
Height: 21 cm

Diameter: 21 cm

Opening: Approximately 2.5 cm

Condition

Excellent vintage condition. No chips, cracks, or restorations. Minor internal inclusions and occasional micro-bubbles are consistent with traditional hand-blown filigrana glass.

About the Designers

Hertha Bengtson (1917–1993) was one of Sweden's leading industrial designers and a long-standing collaborator with Rosenthal. Best known for her refined porcelain designs, she applied the same disciplined sense of proportion and formal clarity to glass, creating objects that are elegant, timeless, and sculptural.

Mario Colelli, trained in the Murano glassmaking tradition, specialised in intricate filigrana and cane techniques. His technical mastery enabled the precise integration of coloured glass threads within clear crystal, producing works distinguished by remarkable optical depth and craftsmanship.

About the Manufacturer

Rosenthal Glasstudio was established to explore the artistic potential of glass through collaborations with internationally renowned designers and master glassmakers. During the 1970s and 1980s, it became one of Europe's leading producers of limited-edition studio glass, creating collectible objects that bridged traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design.

Design

Both vases are executed using the classic Venetian filigrana technique, in which delicate black and amber-brown glass canes are encased within clear crystal. Twisted into continuous vertical spirals, the coloured threads generate a subtle optical vibration that shifts with changing light and perspective. Rather than functioning as surface decoration, the filigrana becomes an integral part of each vessel's architecture, emphasising both transparency and volume.

The taller vase presents an elegant, elongated profile with a gently rising neck that accentuates its verticality, while the second adopts a fuller onion-shaped form that conveys stability and quiet monumentality. Displayed together, the two pieces establish a harmonious dialogue between height and breadth, movement and stillness, creating a balanced sculptural composition.

One vase is engraved:
"Rosenthal Glasstudio H. Bengtson Colelli 018-3/200"

The second appears to belong to the same limited-edition series.

Style: Scandinavian Modern; Studio Glass

Materials: Hand-blown crystal glass

Place of Origin: Germany

Condition: Excellent

Displayed as a pair, these vases create a refined focal point on a dining table, sideboard, or illuminated shelf. Their restrained palette of black, amber, and clear crystal complements both contemporary and Mid-Century interiors, while the changing reflections and optical depth reward viewing from every angle. As matching examples from the same Rosenthal Glasstudio series, they are considerably rarer than individual pieces and particularly appealing to collectors of European studio glass. This piece has an attribution mark,
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