20th Century Murano Glass Turtle Sculpture attributed to Vincenzo Nason, 1960s

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Description

Measurements:
height: 6.5 cm; width: 18 cm; depth: 11.5 cm; weight: 1.190 kg

item :
murano artistic glass animal sculpture … Read more Measurements:
height: 6.5 cm; width: 18 cm; depth: 11.5 cm; weight: 1.190 kg

item :
murano artistic glass animal sculpture depicting a turtle, crafted entirely by hand using the hot-work technique. The body, of considerable thickness and weight (1.190 kg), is composed of a transparent, colorless glass mass of great clarity, enveloping a strongly rounded carapace decorated internally with numerous irregular lenticular inclusions in shades of ruby ​​red, amaranth, and burgundy. These chromatic spots, incorporated into the mass during the hot-work process, stand out against the crystalline transparency of the glass, creating an optical effect of great depth and vivacity, particularly striking when viewed against the light. The transparent edge surrounding the carapace further amplifies this sense of depth, almost "suspending" the colored circles within the mass. The head and neck, also sculpted in clear glass, are projected forward with a slightly ascending motion, giving the animal a lively and naturalistic expression. The figure is completed by four flattened legs, applied and heat-finished separately, and a small tail, details that demonstrate the high level of technical expertise required for this type of sculpture. There is no engraved signature or currently visible label, but we believe its authorship can be attributed to the artistic glassworks of vincenzo nason. The attribution to the murano factory v. Nason & c. Is based on a stylistic and technical-constructive comparison with similar pieces, some of which retain the company's signature and/or original label. In particular, a turtle piece made entirely of clear glass, a much simpler process than ours, is documented, with an original v. Nason & c. Label. Commercially dated to the 1970s-1980s, it is very similar in size and weight (1.138 kg) to the present piece, characterized by the same general layout of a solid body, rounded carapace, protruding head, and applied paws. The use of adhesive labels as an identifying element also makes it entirely possible that pieces currently unmarked, like ours, may have lost their labels over the decades.

useful information for item valuation:
the works of v. Nason & c., an active and internationally recognized murano manufacturer, maintain a steady demand on the antiques and modern antiques markets, driven primarily by collectors of late 20th-century venetian art glass. The manufacturer's animal sculptures, particularly turtles, fish, swans, and elephants in clear glass with colored inclusions, represent some of the brand's most recognizable and sought-after pieces and are regularly listed on elite high-end modern antique platforms such as 1stdibs and pamono. For vases and decorative objects by v. Nason & c., asking prices found on pamono generally range between €300 and €900, depending on the size and complexity of the offered piece's workmanship. This figure provides a useful benchmark for assessing the brand's market value. In our research, in addition to the similarly sized turtle sculpture mentioned above, listed on pamono for €800 and titled "mid-century clear murano glass sculpture by vincenzo nason, italy, 1970," we also found a larger, signed horse bust with a v. Nason glassworks tag, listed for €854 and titled "horse head in clear murano glass by vincenzo nason," demonstrating that the factory's animalier sculptures have become one of its hallmarks, most recognizable and sought-after by collectors. In our opinion, this piece should be valued in the mid-to-high end of the aforementioned price range because the surface of this piece features colored inclusions modeled in relief (small protuberances or convex lenses) that physically protrude from the carapace, going beyond the simple optical effect generated within the glass mass itself. This type of work requires superior manual skill and mastery compared to simply casting flat inclusions embedded in a smooth surface: the master glassmaker must apply and shape, one by one, the individual drops of colored glass while still hot on the still-incandescent wall of the shell, simultaneously managing their relief, shape, and perfect integration with the transparent mass beneath, without compromising the overall symmetry or transparency. The result is a three-dimensional, textured effect, almost ashlar-like, that goes far beyond the simple optical play of color-on-transparency typical of the simplest and most common examples on the market. For this reason, given the same craftsmanship and subject matter, an example like ours should be considered qualitatively superior and commercially more valuable than other similar sculptures made of entirely transparent and smooth glass. The execution of these, while still exquisite, is technically less complex and less rare to find on the modern antiques market.

about the artist and/or manufacturer:
the v. Nason & c. Factory traces its roots to vincenzo nason, who founded the eponymous glassworks in murano in 1967, joining a family tradition of artistic glassmaking that traces its origins to the historic nason family, one of the oldest and most prestigious on the venetian island. Active in the glassmaking industry since the 19th century, they are related to other important murano dynasties such as the barovier and seguso families. Over the decades, v. Nason & c. Developed a broad and diversified production, ranging from mid-century vases and furnishing accessories to figurative and animalier sculptures, the latter of which have become one of the factory's distinctive and most recognizable features. The company's names and labels varied over the years, making it difficult to accurately identify some unmarked pieces—a phenomenon common to many smaller murano glassmakers in the late 20th century, often working for multiple clients or distributors. The production of animal motifs, in particular, is part of a well-established tradition of murano glassmaking, which since the early 20th century had combined great masters like vittorio zecchin and napoleone martinuzzi with a thriving production of small decorative sculptures depicting animals, destined for both the domestic market and, especially after world war ii, for an international clientele increasingly captivated by the artisanal and chromatic allure of murano glass. Companies like v. Nason & c., along with contemporary manufacturers such as barbini, seguso, cenedese, salviati, and formia, played a key role in spreading the image of murano glass throughout the world as a synthesis of technical virtuosity and decorative vivacity. Today, these sculptures are a point of reference for collectors of italian modern antiques and murano art glass. They are particularly appreciated for the authenticity of their entirely handcrafted work and the richness of their color achieved through the inclusion and layering of colored glass within the transparent body. See less