Wall mirror - Crystal

Murano Crystal Mirror, Acid-Etched, Following Ongaro e Fuga, 20th Century – Italy

Material: Murano Crystal
Signature: following Ongaro e Fuga Murano
Period: 20th Century
Country of Origin: Murano, Italy
Minor flaws that do not interfere with the overall view of the piece (a small blue flower in the upper right corner)
Overall dimensions: 130 x 94 x 8 cm.

Exceptional large-format mirror, from the workshop of the prestigious Italian firm Ongaro e Fuga. The structure is composed of a superposition of geometric shapes: first a rectangle with beveled corners, a rectangle, and above it a frame of curved (or wavy) shapes both at the bottom and at the top, capped with an exquisite crest. All profiles are ornamented with blue crystal applications in the form of a six-petaled flower in a single piece, straight cut pieces and other decorative motifs. The interspaces are acid-etched following also stylized vegetal shapes. Greater exuberance in the crest flower, with various bodies and surrounding leaves. Solid wood back.

Made with glass blown by hand on the island of Murano. Murano glass traces its origins to craftsmen who fled Constantinople, who settled in the Venice area, where their art gained great social significance, in the X century. However, by the end of the 13th century, factory fires, built of wood, were constant, so the authorities ordered glassmakers to settle on the nearby island of Murano to prevent fires from affecting the rest of the city. For centuries the glassmaking arts have been preserved with great caution.

The glass is formed from silicon dioxide, which is melted at high temperatures, between 1200 and 1400°C to form a paste. After lowering the temperature to 800°, the liquid vessel is gathered at the end of the cerbatana by one of the master’s assistants, the “servente.” During this process, the “servente” winds the pipe around the oven, then lifts it to remove it from the vessel, rotating the pipe to remove any excess. The fumes from this process are highly toxic, so workers could only work for 25 years.

At the top of the bubble, several materials can be added, such as sheets of precious metals, fine glass rods, or coloring pastes, to ornament. Subsequently the glass is stretched, crushed, pinched, pressed, scratched, elongated, and cut. The masters spin the vessel over the pipes, forming symmetrical circles in the air, thus obtaining the desired shape, as in the pieces of our mirrors. Once the piece is finished, it is annealed by gradually lowering the temperature to prevent the glass from exploding. After cooling, the cold polishing phase begins.

Ongaro e Fuga

The Ongaro e Fuga firm originates from the marriage of Franco Fuga and Tulia Ongaro, both descendants of important Venetian artisans. Among this talented lineage, Angelo Fuga stood out, a master glassmaker since the mid-19th century. Given Angelo Fuga’s legacy and a deep interest in keeping Venetian artisanal tradition alive, the couple founded the brand in 1954.

Their career began with a specialization precisely in glass treatments to create mirrors. Over time, they have innovated and incorporated new pieces (console tables, dressers, cabinets…). Currently, the firm is run by the three sons of its founders, Bruno, Giuliano and Francesco, who have renewed the firm by combining modern techniques with traditional ones, in a bid to reclaim Venetian tradition and its techniques. In addition, today the firm collaborates with other houses and artists, working on designs ranging from the traditional to the modern. They are known for luxury, elegance, abundant decoration, and attention to detail, all of which result in absolute works of art, as unique as they are beautiful.

Shipping: The cost of sending the product will be paid by the buyer, based on dimensions, weight, and destination. We will contact you to arrange it and finalize the budget. Shipping costs include professional custom packaging; personalized shipping with tracking number and warranty. DUE TO THE SIZE AND FRAGILITY OF THE PIECE, IT IS PREFERRED TO ARRANGE SHIPPING WITH THE BUYER. CURRENT COSTS ARE ESTIMATED. A CUSTOM WOODEN SHIPPING CRATE WILL BE REQUIRED.

The buyer will be responsible for paying import duties and associated taxes in the destination country, if any. Please note the seller’s liability disclaimer for potential customs charges, as they are charged in the destination country and the amount payable is determined by that country’s customs. If an export license is required, the costs are borne by the buyer. The cost progressively depends on the value of the work to be exported.