Summary

Blown-glass ewer (one of a pair) of blue glass with spiral fluted neck, tiered, spreading foot with folded foot-rim, serpentine handle, and a body of flattened bulbous form with aplied floral and leaf decoration in pink, blue and green glass, manufactured by Compagnia Venezia-Murano (CVM), Venice, Italy, circa 1880.

The CVM was established in 1877 by Sir Austen Henry Layard, a former business partner and financier of glass manufacturer Antonio Salviati with whom he had founded the Societa Anonima per azioni Salviati & Co. in 1866. After the former business collapsed, Layard retained several of Salviati's craftsmen, including members of the Seguso family of noted Venetian glassmakers. Many of the products subsequently produced by CVM show the clear influence of the Seguso style, and similar items are published in CVM's catalogues from this period.

The Compagnia Venezia-Murano were awarded the highest prize at the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, being the First Order of Merit (gold medal) for their exhibits.

Physical Description

Blown, pale blue, glass ewer with fluted spout, cylindrical neck, flattened bulbous body and tiered, stemmed foot. Swirl patterning in body and neck. Alternating blue and pink flowers with green leaves attached to waist of bowl. Two twists of blue rope around tiers of stem.

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