By Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Signed Alessandro Mandruzzato for Design Guild Murano Sommerso Faceted Glass Box, 1970s
A striking sculptural Murano glass box signed “Mandruzzato for Design Guild,” showcasing the celebrated faceted-block technique perfected by the Mandruzzato family in the 1960s–80s. The heavy, optic-clear crystal form contains a dramatic sommerso core, rendered in deep black glass infused with shimmering micro-granulated 24k gold. The internal composition appears to float within the thick, architectural walls, magnified by the sharply cut and hand-polished geometric facets.
The hinged lid opens to reveal a molded black-glass interior well, its glossy surface contrasting with the jewel-like radiance of the glass block. The original brass piano hinge and frame remain intact. This design was produced as a special commission for Design Guild, a luxury American importer, and is far scarcer than the unsigned Mandruzzato vases and blocks commonly encountered.
A powerful example of Murano Brutalist...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Italian Boxes