Antiquary & Expert CNES

The vast majority of these high-quality blown glass clusters come from the workshops of Murano, near Venice. They enjoyed immense popularity between the 1950s and 1970s.

• Technique: Each "grape" is an individually blown glass sphere attached to a central structure.
• Famous craftsmen: Houses like Barovier & Toso or Vetreria Gino Cenedese produced variations of these objects, although many did not have a signature, as they were sold as luxury decorative objects.

• The Glass: The color is a "seafoam green" or "clear crystal" with highlights. Small bubbles are visible inside the glass, a sign of handcrafted work.
  
  1. The "Pulegoso" Glass Technique:
  Glass filled with air bubbles is not a defect; it is a deliberate and complex technique.
  Origin: This method was made famous by Napoleone Martinuzzi in Murano in the 1920s/1930s.
  Process: Substances (such as baking soda) are added to the molten glass to create this chemical reaction.
  Rarity: Clusters of bubbled glass are often more sought after than those of smooth glass because they diffuse light in a much softer and more textured way.
  2. A "Sculptural" Decorative Object:
  The fact that it is not originally electrified is an excellent sign. This means that it is a table sculpture or a statement centerpiece, not a mass-produced light fixture.
  At the time, these pieces were sold in luxury boutiques as purely decorative objects.
  The heavy metal structure served to maintain the overall balance, as 40 cm of solid or thick blown glass represents a considerable weight.
  
  The grains are attached to the structure by a glass ring that is part of the drop.
  This attachment system—where each grain ends in an integrated glass hook or ring —is the signature of Murano's chandelier and glass artists.
  A Venetian-style assembly technique.
  
  

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