Neodymium Sommerso Murano Glass Paperweight from Fratelli Toso, Italy, 1960s

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This Murano glass paperweight by Fratelli Toso was made in Murano, Italy, during the 1960s, combining neodymium glass with sommerso … Read more This Murano glass paperweight by Fratelli Toso was made in Murano, Italy, during the 1960s, combining neodymium glass with sommerso and bullicante techniques. The tall cylindrical form rises to rounded shoulders and a spherical knob, giving the piece the appearance of a small stoppered vessel while retaining the substantial construction of a solid decorative paperweight. Within the clear colored body, a vivid cyan-blue central column is surrounded by spiraling translucent red glass and numerous suspended bubbles, creating considerable depth when viewed from different angles. Several established Murano glass techniques are brought together within the composition. The colored elements are submerged within surrounding layers of glass in the manner associated with sommerso, while the controlled bubbles provide the decorative effect known as bullicante. Rather than functioning simply as surface ornament, the red spiral, blue core, and bubbles are viewed through the substantial outer body, producing a layered three-dimensional effect. The use of neodymium glass adds another distinctive optical characteristic. Neodymium-containing glass is known for its ability to appear different in color according to the light source. Here, the outer glass shifts between pale blue and a brighter lilac-purple, altering the relationship between the surrounding body and the contrasting red and cyan inclusions. Fratelli Toso was one of Murano's historic glassmaking firms, established in the nineteenth century and active through the twentieth century. The firm's production encompassed both traditional Venetian techniques and the increasingly expressive use of color and pattern associated with postwar Murano glass. A compact but technically complex example of 1960s Italian art glass, the paperweight combines strong color with an unusually architectural internal composition. Very good condition. Dimensions: H 11 cm / 4.33 in.; diameter 6.5 cm / 2.56 in. 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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