A Murano Gilt-Metal Mounted ‘Sapphire’ Glass

MirrorMercury-plate mirror, glass asticciole torciglione, riporti colorati ‘zaffiro’, gilt bronze and copper
Murano
Early 18th Century
31 x 37 cm (12.2 x 14.6 in.)

The frame of the mirror, with canes — or asticciole — of twisted glass, along with gilt-metal shells and fusaroles, is made out of colored glass parcloses which ‘recall sapphire, topaz, ruby, and emerald, represented by appliqués of colored and fused glass’ (Morazzoni, 1951, p. 39).

This type of frame, which first appeared at the end of the 16th century and was produced until the mid-18th century by Murano glassmakers (Morazzoni, 1951, p. 40), was intended for the ‘wealthiest and most lavish clientele’ (Morazzoni, 1951, p. 40 sq.). A mirror of the same type from the collections of the Museo Vetrario in Murano, published by Morazzoni, is likely the ‘Specchio in cornice dorata e riporti di vetro colorato’ listed as No. 939 in the museum’s catalogue, under the section dedicated to Vetri muranesi del secolo XVIII, or 18th-century Murano glass (Gheltof, 1888, p. 73). Consequently, the present mirror should be dated to the early years of the 18th century; while its torsated glass asticciole, gilt-bronze and copper fusaroles and quasi rocaille shells, and ‘sapphire’ or cobalt glass riporti are unquestionably Muranese.