Mid-Century Modern Italian Black Brown Murano Glass Walrus Sculpture, Italy, 1960s

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Amazing Mid-Century Modern Italian walrus black, brown and crystal Murano glass sculpture. This incredible item was produced in Italy during … Read more Amazing Mid-Century Modern Italian walrus black, brown and crystal Murano glass sculpture. This incredible item was produced in Italy during the 1960s and it is attributed to Archimede Seguso. This piece is wonderful as the colors follow the shape of the animal. An elegant object that will decorate a mid-century living room or bedroom. The Seguso family today is able to trace its uninterrupted lineage of glassmakers back over six centuries to 1397, based on documents in the archives of Venice. In 1605, the family was added to the Libro d'Oro of Murano, or Golden Book of Murano, which included the most important glassmaking families and offered them privileges of nobility. The Seguso glassmakers were especially successful between the mid-16th and 17th centuries when they created an extensive commercial network for their products that reached as far as the newly discovered Americas. During this successful period, the Seguso family crest was imprinted on the osella coin of Venice by the Doge in 1792. However, it was not until the 19th century that they produced their best work and became one of the leading glassmakers on the island of Murano, as well as internationally. Antonio Seguso (b.1829) singularly revived forgotten, sophisticated techniques to play a crucial role in the glass Renaissance of the mid-19th century, when Murano glassmaking was recovering from its most difficult period of crisis after the fall of the Venetian Republic. His son, Giovanni (b. 1853) was an eccentric and equally talented glassmaker, who for a time worked with Paolo Venini. Venini often used to tell visitors, “Nane Patare (nickname of Giovanni Seguso) taught me everything about glass.” Antonio Seguso (b. 1888), the son of Giovanni, was also a talented glassmaker and along with Napoleone Barovier and Luigi Ferro, founded Artistica Vetreria e Soffieria Barovier, Seguso and Ferro in 1933, this company would eventually become Seguso Vetri d'Arte, employing all five sons of Antonio Seguso in various roles, including Archimede Seguso for a period of time, the father of Giampaolo Seguso, and grandfather to the current generation guiding the Seguso Company today, Gianluca, Pierpaolo and Gianandrea Seguso. The brand, trademark, designs and archives of Seguso Vetri d'Arte are today in the hands of the family and sold throughout the world. See less