Trasparente Vase

These three objects epitomize the best of Bellotto’s personal style as shown at the Mostra delle Arti Decorative di Monza in 1927, characterized by a strong emphasis on geometric forms and reflecting an art deco inspiration. This particular series, called “Trasparente” by Bellotto, features objects with bodies made with transparent glass that is colorless and layered with air bubbles, or greenish without pattern; the objects are accented with contrasting details (such as rims, handles, or applied decorations) in cobalt blue or black glass.
Given the nature of blown glass, the objects would appear to be unique. Similar objects have been documented exhibiting slight variations in color and/or form, although all vessels from this series draw upon the same design vocabulary. [1] The Corning Museum of Glass owns a double bubble body vase with spiral handles, which seems to be of the same genesis as the one proposed for acquisition. However, the specimen in the Corning collection has inverted proportions, namely a longer stem and a shorter neck, and has spiral handles made of black glass that are attached to the stem, as opposed to the body.[2]
The three objects are rare, as Bellotto’s glass-only works were produced during a period of between two to three years.
Bellotto tends to be best known for his works that combine wrought iron and glass, such as the hanging lamp in the collection of the Cooper Hewitt (2012-9-1-a/j), which represents a very rare and large example of Venetian mosaic glass from the early part of the 20th century.[3] Having the opportunity to augment the collection by adding some of his glass-only works would provide the Cooper Hewitt with the opportunity to add rare and artistically important objects to its collection, as well as to provide additional context for the Bellotto hanging lamp already in the collection.
Venetian glass is highly important in the history of glass, from ancient Roman days to the present. While the museum has a few examples of Venetian glass from the 1950s and 1960s (and a single vase from 1934), it is an area that is appropriate for a much broader scope of holdings. One of the periods of great creativity in Venetian glass – both technically and artistically – is the late 19th and early 20th century, a period in which some extraordinarily complex objects were created that probably could not be made today. These three objects are very significant, in and of themselves, and in that context.

Trasparente Vase; blown glass; H: 28.6 cm (11 1/4 in.); Gift of Neil and Donna Weisman; 2015-48-1

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.