Venetian glass from Murano by Stephan Toso, signed on the base.(RNP)
This stunning Alfredo Rossi vase is a masterful blend of classical antiquity and mid-century Murano innovation. Known for his ability to manipulate texture and light, Rossi often utilized the Scavo technique to create pieces that look like they were unearthed from an ancient archaeological site rather than blown in a 20th-century furnace.
The vase features a graceful, tapered body that narrows toward the base, topped with a flared rim. Its most striking structural elements are the two applied ring handles on the shoulders, a direct nod to Greco-Roman amphorae.
The vessel is rendered in a warm, glowing salmon-pink to coral hue. The surface treatment is highly specialized:
The Scavo Finish: The exterior has been treated with chemical salts and heat (or acid etching) to create a matte, pitted texture. This mimics the “weathered” look of glass that has been buried underground for centuries. Despite the matte finish, the glass retains a luminous quality, allowing light to pass through the body and highlight the variegated, almost “mottled” internal coloring.
Alfredo Rossi was a key figure in the Murano glass scene, particularly during the 1960s and 70s. While many of his contemporaries focused on bright, polished colors, Rossi’s work with the Scavo technique allowed for a more organic, earthy aesthetic. This specific vase represents a “Modernist Antiquity” style—using cutting-edge 20th-century craftsmanship to pay homage to the very roots of Mediterranean glassmaking.
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