20th Century Studio Glass Vase with Silver Metal Snail by Samuel J Herman for Val Saint Lambert, 1970s

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Measurements:
height: 30 cm; diameter: 27 cm; weight: 8.139 kg

item :
a magnificent, large, artistic glass sculpture vase, a … Read more Measurements:
height: 30 cm; diameter: 27 cm; weight: 8.139 kg

item :
a magnificent, large, artistic glass sculpture vase, a work of remarkable technical and dimensional prowess, created by samuel j. Herman for the historic belgian manufacturer val saint lambert, and signed under the base with a diamond-engraved signature. The piece is striking primarily for its monumentality: 30 cm high, with a maximum diameter of 27 cm and a weight of over 8.1 kg, the glass mass used is exceptionally consistent, far beyond what is normally required for a domestic vase, demonstrating the object's fully sculptural conception. The body presents a free, organic, and highly sculptural form, deliberately departing from the symmetrical regularity of the traditional vase, revealing a hot-work technique executed with great freedom of gesture. The glass surface is the work's true expressive element: areas of intense pink-lilac hue coexist with large sections traversed by green, gold, and midnight blue streaks, arranged in a fluid, almost aquatic pattern reminiscent of the veins of a mineral or the movement of seaweed. The material alternates transparency, opacity, and iridescent reflections with a strong iridescent effect, which change significantly depending on the angle and light: the chromatic variations appear incorporated into the glass mass itself, and not simply superimposed on the surface, confirming a refined hot-working technique with successive inclusions and superimpositions. This free and material language is fully attributable to the culture of studio glass, the international movement that, starting in the 1960s, revolutionized the approach to glass, conceiving it as an autonomous means of expression for the artist rather than a simple material for industrial mass production. Of particular decorative value is the silver-plated metal frame that surrounds the mouth of the vase: a rare and richly crafted structure, modeled with naturalistic snail-shaped elements that extend along the rim, integrating an independent, three-dimensional sculptural component into the glass mass. The contrast between the warm silvery metal surface and the iridescent glass beneath further accentuates the highly artistic and original character of the ensemble. Visible under the base are diamond-point inscriptions, attributable to the words "val saint lambert," the initials "sjh," and the number "22." the first two, consistent with the belgian manufacturer and the name of samuel j. Herman, respectively, provide a solid basis for attribution, while the number cannot be interpreted with certainty and could refer to either the serial or print run number, or the year of production.

artist and/or manufacturer information:
samuel j. Herman was born in the united states in 1936 and passed away in 2020, after a career that made him one of the most influential figures in the development of the european studio glass movement. Educated in the united states at a crucial time in the birth of this movement, which revolutionized the concept of artistic glass, freeing it from the constraints of industrial mass production to transform it into a true medium of individual sculptural expression, herman moved to great britain, where in 1969 he founded the glasshouse in covent garden, london. This workshop became a key hub for the spread of studio glass culture in europe, contributing to the education of an entire generation of british master glassmakers. His artistic language is distinguished by the use of blown and hot-worked glass in free-flowing, asymmetrical, and highly sculptural forms, characterized by vivid color contrasts and a particular attention to enhancing the material itself, crafted to enhance its transparency, density, and play of light. During his european career, herman began a significant collaboration with the belgian glassworks val saint lambert, a historic glassworks founded in 1826 near liège, long considered one of europe's leading producers of high-quality crystal and art glass. Through this collaboration, herman was able to experiment with his free and material language on a larger scale, creating a series of strongly experimental and large-format works, of which this vase is a significant example. Herman's works are now held in important museum and private collections internationally and continue to attract growing interest from collectors, who recognize his pioneering role in the birth and development of contemporary european art glass, alongside other key figures in the movement such as harvey littleton, dale chihuly, and erwin eisch. This piece has an attribution mark,
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