Description

This is a pair of heavy, lobed opalescent Murano lamps from the mid 20th century; an era when, according to current Murano glass designers, "Italian avant-garde found a kinship with the country’s deep handmade traditions.” They have an almost ethereal color that belies their heaviness (they are substantial). At some point they were re-mounted on thick lucite bases. Elegant and classic.

Details

• Italy, mid 20th century
  
• 17" tall glass base, 21" to top of socket, 8" diameter
• Professionally rewired, some oxidation to brass hardware
  
• Lamp shades, harps and finials not included

About Murano Glass

Venice has been a center of glass making for centuries. It wasn’t until the 13th century that glass making was moved to the island archipelago of Murano by decree to protect the wooden structures of Venice from the fire hazard caused by the furnaces used in the process. The isolation of the production facilities also allowed the Venetians to closely guard their production secrets and innovations. Eventually, their secrets escaped and England and Bohemia became prime competitors. This competition, coupled with political upheaval in Italy, led to the decline of the Murano glass industry. 

As explained in a recent NYTimes T magazine article, "it wasn’t until after World War I that the industry once again found its purpose, reborn as 'art glass.' Murano wares of the later Middle Ages had been either optically clear (a style called cristallo) or pale (lattimo), featuring curlicues and frippery, but in 1921, a Milanese lawyer named Paolo Venini bought a glass operation with the Venetian antiques dealer Giacomo Cappellin, convincing artisans to focus on clean lines and saturated hues like violet, sapphire, cranberry and emerald. In 1932, Venini hired Carlo Scarpa, a then 26-year-old Venetian who would later become one of Italy’s most important architects. Scarpa, who was soon joined by a young Gio Ponti, another future Italian design legend, would help create the lexicon and shapes we now think of as Murano: frosted ribbing on translucent orbs, volcanic colors, corroded effects that resemble distressed wood or iridescent fish scales. Murano glass from that era remains coveted by collectors and designers..."