Chandelier, Venini Unique Largest Reticello Bowl, 1930s, Murano Glass, 24 leaves

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Chandelier, Venini Unique Largest Reticello Bowl, 1930s, Murano Glass, 24 leaves

About the Item

A beautiful chandelier, carries the largest reticello disc I have ever seen or could be found on auctions or other fine dealers. The great reticello bowl is surrounded and crowned by 24 clear leaves that are topping the chandelier and making a perfect play with light. While the construction is a typical Barovier and Toso, the large plate with clear rim is very similar to the flush mount Venini chandeliers with the shape of Carlo Scarpa's 5266 blue catalog. The three spheres on the top are also a typical Venini construction. Reticello is made without bubbles. This helps with the decade as it's more towards the 30s and leads again on Venini and not Barovier. (Carlo Scarpa chandelier, model 5417 Venini Glass: Its History, Artists and Techniques, Deboni, blue catalog, pg. 138). The perfect central bubble comes naturally on reticello as a bit of air is trapped when fusing canes in cross position. To avoid it maestro needs to nest one filigrana vase into another that are flattened on the bronzino (marble). The size of this bowl is too large to be true on this technique!. Stem shows a six flatten sphere and an intermediate long bat shaped glass. The bat shows a different color to the other elements, a bit more green while the other elements are of neutral clear glass. I am of the opinion that this chandelier was first made to be shorter, without the bat and in a second moment was elongated. The leaves are original and made to fit a shorter version. Hardware shows typical constructioin of pre WW2, with wood arm holder (after WW2 is in metal) and carries three regular bulbs (for US the sockets will be changed). This is an incredible unique chandelier that is a milestone of glassmaking history. Today just a few maestro can make a bowl in reticello without bubbles of this size. I can count Lino Tagliapietra, Paolo Crepax, Afro Celotto and if challenged, Fabiano Amadi. Giuliano Ballarin would probably make it of the same quality but not of the same size. One photo shows the chandelier without the leaves and when seeing it like that it really reinforce the Venini/Carlo Scarpa director attribution. Other considerations: would Venini make a chandelier in the Barovier style in the 30s. I believe the answer is yes. The chandelier cames from a Villa in the Via Filangeri area, the "salotto buono" of Naples, and it is possible that the chandelier was made on request. Last consideration. First world war evacuation of Murano. This is an interesting possibility. Dates back the chandelier of 15 years. It might be something to explore. After the defeat of Caporetto, the glass industries were evacuated from Murano and moved to Naples. In the darker moments the Italian army was considering to settle a new front closer to Milan. The Piave line of defense was not considered safe. Barovier and Toso moved to Naples and I found that when making the analysis of the Aureliano Toso/Dino Martens chandlelier. It was during the Barovier Neapolitan years that Dino Martens met Amelia Toso, his future wife. Naples had glass furnaces, since the kingdom time, more Industrial with larger crucibles and ovens. This could have created the possibility to make this large reticello bowl. It would need a further investigation. There is something in the glass that makes me think of this possibility. Glass looks less soda (Murano typical softer glass) and more potash. I believe a simple linear expansion test would resolve this intriguing idea. In this case the piece would become a museum chandelier!

Attributed to:
Venini (Manufacturer)Carlo Scarpa (Designer)
Similar to:
Barovier&Toso (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 36.23 in (92 cm)Diameter: 28.35 in (72 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Blown Glass,Milk Glass,Murano Glass
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1930-1939
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1935
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
Seller Location:
Tavarnelle val di Pesa, IT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2568311639053