Archimede Seguso

ARCHIMEDE SEGUSO (Murano, 1909–1999).
Pair of candlesticks. Murano, Italy, 1950s.
Transparent, cut, and faceted Murano glass.
Etched with “Archimede Seguso Murano – Made in Italy.”
In good condition, with minimal signs of wear consistent with its age.
Measurements: 29 cm tall; 16 cm base diameter.

This signed pair is a refined example of Archimede Seguso’s experiments with thick glass during the postwar period, when Murano glassmakers explored the sculptural possibilities of molten glass. The broad bases and slender shafts are adorned with faceted carvings of irregular geometry that multiply the refraction of light, giving these functional pieces a presence akin to sculpture. The Museo del Vetro in Murano specifically highlights the development of heavy, even solid, glass as one of the defining characteristics of Murano’s production in the 1950s and 1960s.

Archimede Seguso belonged to a historic family of Murano glassmakers and began working in the furnace while still a child. After his time at Seguso Vetri d’Arte, he established his own workshop in 1946, where he engaged in intensive experimentation with traditional techniques and new effects of texture, thickness, and transparency. He participated regularly in the Venice Biennale and became one of the key figures in 20th-century Murano glass. His work is held, among other institutions, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Corning Museum of Glass, and the Museo del Vetro in Murano.