Designer glass collection a Melbourne auction for the ages

Imagine winning the gold medal for your glass vase design at the 1962 Venice Biennale – only to have it taken away because you were not born in Italy.

This is what happened to American glass designer and sculptor Thomas Stearns (1936-2006), the first of his countrymen to design at Murano for Paolo Venini on a Fulbright Travel Grant at age 23 from 1959-61.

Stearns, who ranks among his Italian contemporaries as one of the masters of 20^th century glass for his exceptional designs, won the gold medal for his Facades of Venice vase creations, hand-blown by glass maestro Checco Ongaro.

One example from this collection is being offered at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions forthcoming Mid-Century Masterpieces sale from 10am Wednesday February 25 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Entitled Facciate Di Venezia (Façade of Venice) circa 1962, it is listed as lot 13 with a $30,000-$40,000 catalogue estimate.

It is one of 240 glass creations from Italy and Scandinavia, assembled by three Melbourne collectors, to appear in the auction – all of which are notable for their vibrant colours and complex techniques typical of the Italian masters and Scandinavian designers.

In addition, there are several collaborative works by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), the highest estimate of $10,000-$15,000 being a circa 1962 Gufo monumental hand-blown Murano glass in clear, red and black (lot 1) for E. Constantini, Fucina Degli Angeli engraved “E. Constantini, P. Picasso, Fucini, Degli Angeli, Venezia 1962”.

The famous Italian designer Fulvio Bianconi (1915-1996) has several vases in the auction, including his circa 1950 hand-blown Con Macchie (lot 5) and his rare circa 1958 Scozzese (lot 9), both Murano glass for Venini, the latter with its original paper label and each carrying catalogue estimates of $20,000-$30,000.

Another Italian artist of note is Dino Martens (1894-1970) who also has several works on offer. One of these is the circa 1953 Eldorado Trombone vase (lot 10) and another the circa 1954 Vase Gomitolo (lot 15), both for Vetreria Aureliano Toso and each with $12,000-$20,000 catalogue estimates.

The remainder of the auction reads like a Who’s Who among glass artists with names like Alessandro Pianon (1931-1964), Archimede Seguso (1909-1999), Alfredo Barbini (1912-2007) and Antonio Da Ros (1936-2012) all making an appearance.

French artists Emille Galle (1846-1904 and Daum & Nancy also feature with their respective Art Nouveau creations such as the 1895 floral decoration (lot 121) and “Anemones” (lot 118) cameo glass works.

Several household Swedish and Finnish designer names are in the auction, such as Vicke Linstrand (1904-1983), Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) and Timo Sarpaneva (1926-2006).

Included in their creations are “Pearl Divers” (lot 186), “Gerania” (lot 193) and “Finlandia” (lot 194).