Pair of lamps, ca. 1980

Pair of lamps, ca. 1980.
Murano glass. Gold-speckled glass tulip shades with green-patinated metal stems. Thick, clear glass vases on square gold-plated metal bases.
Measurements: 78 cm (height).

The uniqueness of this pair of lamps up for auction lies in their ornamental character. Two glass vases with square bases hold a bouquet of four tulips each. The exquisite craftsmanship of the Murano glass perfectly captures the qualities of the materials.

The high value of Murano glass stems from the artisanal and secretive process used by its artisans. Produced on the Italian island of Murano, this glass possesses special properties and offers colors and shapes distinct from any other type of glass. The history of Murano glassmaking dates back to the 8th century. By the 12th century, Venice had become extremely famous for its fine glass. To keep the glassmaking industry unique and profitable, a law was passed in 1271 stipulating that foreign glass could not be imported for production and that foreign glassworkers could not be hired. However, in the 13th century, all glass-making furnaces were relocated by Venetian law to Murano, because the fires in them posed a great risk to Venice’s wooden structures. Together, these two laws ensure that Murano glass remains unique to this day—created by artists and artisans on a small group of islands in Italy. The secrets of glassmaking have been passed down from parents to children and from masters to apprentices.