Antonio Da Ros Vase

Style Modernist
Materials Handblown Glass
Dimensions H 36cm, W 18cm. 3.7kg
Identifying Marks Unsigned
Condition Excellent Vintage Condition
Year 1963-1972
Country Italy

Handblown Vase Antonio Da Ros & Ermanno Nason for Vetreria Gino Cenedese, Murano

This beautifully large and heavy vase features transparent handblown Murano glass in blue, green and lilac tones. It was designed by the famous Antonio Da Ros and blown by Ermanno Nason for Vetreria Gino Cenedese sometime between 1963 and 1972.

Ermanno Nason (1928 – 2013) from Murano in Italy comes from a long line of glassblowers. Born in the late 1920s, Nason first began helping at his father’s furnace Italo at the tender age of just 10! He would go on to contribute to the famous Modern art glass movement coined ‘La Fucina degli Angeli’ (The Angel’s Forge). Nason worked with a variety of important artists including Pablo Picasso and one of my all time favourites Lucio Fontana. A fantastic researcher and expert craftsman, Nason was capable of actualising in glass some of the most creative and innovative ideas of the 20th century.

Interestingly, Neodymium or ‘Alexandrite’ glass has been used, which contains the rare earth element neodymium oxide. When this element is added to the glass melt, it’s sharp absorption bands mean that colour transforms in different lighting conditions. The colour seems lilac in daylight, but can appear pale blue in florescent light. The use of this material really reflects the experimental side of the 60s and 70s.

Provenance: Amelio Cenedese private collection