Mid-Century Murano Zanfirico and Aventurine Glass Decanter Bottle with Stopper, 1960

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Hand-blown using traditional Murano furnace techniques, the intricate canes—known historically as vetro a retortoli—require pre-fused glass rods to be pulled … Read more Hand-blown using traditional Murano furnace techniques, the intricate canes—known historically as vetro a retortoli—require pre-fused glass rods to be pulled and twisted before being picked up on the parison. When illuminated, the dense white lattice casts subtle striped reflections against the clear crystal body. Alternating vertical panels of opaque white lattimo ribbons and delicate twisted zanfirico filigree define the classical amphora body of the vessel. Each spiralling network cane is embedded smoothly within the clear blown glass, tapering cleanly from the rounded shoulder into a waisted neck with a lightly flared rim. Flanking the body are twin applied clear scroll handles, heavily infused with gold leaf and copper-toned aventurine flecks. Their outer edges are hot-worked into repetitive crimped ridges that terminate in tight upper curls, adding distinct textural relief against the smooth glass walls. The decanter rises from an integral circular foot worked with a swirling spiral of dense aventurine powder, producing a rich metallic shimmer beneath the pale body. It is crowned by an elaborate multi-tiered stopper with stacked bulbous knops, a frilled leaf-like collar and an elongated spire top above a ground-glass bung.

Produced on the island of Murano during the 1960s, the decanter retains a circular red and gold foil paper label on the foot representing the historic Murano glassmakers' trade protection body. The assembled piece stands 28 cm high including the stopper. See less