20th Century Sculpture in the Shape of a Bag Vase in Spotted Sommerso Glass attributed to Franco Moretti, Murano, 1980s

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Measurements:
height: 18.5 cm; width: 23 cm; depth: 8.5 cm; weight: 2.055 kg

item :
a magnificent murano glass sculpture … Read more Measurements:
height: 18.5 cm; width: 23 cm; depth: 8.5 cm; weight: 2.055 kg

item :
a magnificent murano glass sculpture in the shape of a woman's handbag, entirely hand-crafted using the sommerso technique, dating back to the second half of the 20th century. The work is stylistically and constructively attributable to the master franco moretti, for his famous animalier/maculati line of the 1980s. This precise attribution is scientifically supported by three technical features inherent in the piece: the specific symmetrical arrangement of the teardrop-shaped upper pins, the color contrast between the milky white inner sheath and the zoomorphic spotted texture on the outside, and, above all, the unique finish on the underside. Unlike other contemporary craftsmen who geometrically smoothed the entire base, the artist preserved the organic curvature of the bowl down to the base, performing a localized grinding and mirror-polishing exclusively around the scar of the pontil. The pontil is an iron rod that the master glassmaker temporarily welds to the base of the incandescent object to support and refine it while hot during the various stages of his artistic work. Once the work is completed, the iron is detached with a sharp blow, leaving a circular glass fracture that requires this meticulous smoothing operation on the grinder. The work is modeled entirely freehand using the complex technique of sommerso incamiciato glass, taking the form of an elegant woman's handbag. Its imposing dimensions (height 18.5 cm, width 23 cm, depth 8.5 cm) and weight of over 2 kilograms confirm the use of a considerable mass of hot-worked glass. Structurally, the object is composed of three distinct and masterfully fused layers of color: the inner core features a sheath of opaline white glass (lattimo) that acts as a reflective core and gives the body of the work a three-dimensional opacity; the middle layer is characterized by an enveloping straw yellow/amber color, embellished with a dense spotted or tortoiseshell decoration, achieved by rolling the incandescent bole over fragments (mace) of dark manganese dioxide-based glass; the final outer layer is sealed with a transparent crystal casting that amplifies the light refraction. The mouth of the vase opens in a sinuous asymmetry finished with a thin amber cord, while the top houses two twin pins heat-molded to simulate the snap closure of a vintage bag. A refined murano glass sculpture that represents a splendid fusion of the geometric functionality of postmodern design and the excellence of venetian glassmaking tradition.

information on the artist and/or manufacturer:
the creation of this famous and iconic series of bag-shaped vases has its roots in the history of the most celebrated murano glassworks. The original collection was conceived in the 1960s by renowned italian designer mario pinzoni (1927–1993) during his prolific tenure as artistic director of the historic seguso vetri d'arte glassworks. A key figure in modernism applied to glass and renowned for his innovative creations exhibited in over 75 international museums, pinzoni reinterpreted an everyday accessory, transforming it into a geometric and organic sculpture. The success of this formal scheme encouraged other leading italian designers to explore this theme throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. Among these, maestro franco moretti stood out, renowned for his refined animalier line, which focused on the chromatic exploration of mineral and spotted motifs in thick layers of submerged glass. Moretti became an absolute point of reference in murano for his ability to blend zoomorphic textures with strong glass thicknesses, leaving an unmistakable aesthetic mark that today makes his unsigned pieces like ours perfectly recognizable and highly sought after by collectors around the world. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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