Archimede Seguso
When people speak of the origins of studio art glass, they usually make reference to the American artist Harvey Littleton and his pioneering work at the Toledo Museum of Art in 1962.
Fewer people would think of Archimede Seguso in these terms, but a well founded argument could be made for exactly this—Archimede Seguso as the father of the world-wide studio art glass movement.
Beginning in 1946 Seguso, then considered the most accomplished master blower on Murano, opened his own firm, Vetreria Archimede Seguso. Working with a small team, Seguso designed and executed almost every piece produced there for over forty years. In addition, most of the pieces made by Seguso during these years were either unique or made in very limited numbers. Finally, the unparalleled artistry and technical virtuosity exhibited in these pieces is unrivaled and inimitable, even today.
The a Piume vessel and three Merletti vases presented here possess the highest level of quality and rarity and should rightly be considered early masterworks of studio art glass.
Archimede Seguso 1909–1999
During his long life Archimede Seguso worked in many of Murano’s most important glasshouses, but he would ultimately become famous for establishing and operating his own.
At a young age Seguso became an apprentice at the Vetreria Artistica Barovier where his father was a partner. In 1933 he became a founding member and principal master blower of the Barovier Seguso Ferro firm, which would become Seguso Vetri d’Arte in 1937. Here he collaborated extensively with the young designer Flavio Poli and earned a reputation as one of the greatest master blowers on the island.
In 1946 he established his own workshop, Veteria Archimede Seguso, where he served as both designer and master blower, personally executing almost every piece produced there for more than 40 years. During this time he developed many innovative glass designs that employed complex ancient techniques, such as Filigrana and successfully re-imagined them to suit post-war tastes.
Auction Results Archimede Seguso
