A Venetian Glass and Silver Oil Bottle, Probably Murano, Late 19th Century

Of lyrical form, the twin ribbed glass vessels gracefully entwined and joined at the neck, their fluid contours recalling the organic exuberance of late Baroque Murano glass. The hand-blown bodies rest upon a finely cast and chased silver stand with foliate motifs, its patina lending an aura of age and quiet grandeur.

Pieces such as this were produced in the great glasshouses of Murano during the late nineteenth century, when Venice experienced a revival of its centuries-old glassmaking traditions under the influence of the Salviati workshops and the rediscovery of Renaissance techniques. Combining the virtuosity of the glassblower with the refinement of the silversmith, this bottle exemplifies the period’s fascination with dual craftsmanship — at once functional and sculptural, fragile yet enduring.

A poetic object, it evokes the romance of the lagoon and the shimmering light of Venetian interiors, serving as both a vessel and a work of art.