Wall mirror - Crystal

Mirror in Murano crystal, 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 (one small blue flower in the upper right corner)
Total dimensions: 130 x 94 x 8 cm.

Exceptional large-format mirror, school of the prestigious Italian firm Ongaro e Fuga. The structure consists of an overlapping arrangement of geometric shapes: first a rectangle with chamfered corners, a rectangle and, above it, a frame of curved (or mixed-line) forms both at the bottom and at the top, finishing with an exquisite crest. All profiles are adorned with blue crystal appliqués in the shape of a six-petaled flower in a single piece, straight, blue-enameled segments and other decorative motifs. The interstices 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 handmade blown glass on the island of Murano. Murano glass originates from craftspeople who fled Constantinople, who settled in the Venice area, achieving significant social prominence in the art in the X century. However, by the end of the 13th century, fires of wooden factories were constant, so authorities ordered glassmakers to settle on the nearby island of Murano to prevent fires from affecting the rest of the city. For centuries the glass art has been preserved with much care.

The glass is made of silica, which is dissolved at high temperatures, between 1200 and 1400°C to form a paste. After cooling to 800°, the molten vessel is gathered at the end of the cerbatana by one of the Master’s assistants, the “servente.” During this procedure, the “servente” rolls the pipe into the furnace, then lifts it to remove it from the vessel, rotating the pipe to eliminate any excess. The fumes from this process are highly toxic, so workers can 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, in order to ornament. Subsequently the glass is stretched, crushed, pinched, rolled, grooved, stretched, and cut. The masters spin the vessel on the pipes, forming symmetrical circles in the air, thus obtaining the desired shape, as with the pieces of our mirrors. Once the piece is finished, it is annealed by gradually lowering the temperature to prevent the glass from exploding. Once cooled, a cold polishing phase begins.

Ongaro e Fuga

The Ongaro e Fuga signature originates from the marriage of Franco Fuga and Tulia Ongaro, both descendants of important Venetian artisans. Among this talented lineage stood out Angelo Fuga, a master of glass since the mid-19th century. In light of 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 treatment to create mirrors. Over time they have innovated and incorporated new pieces (dressers, tables, cabinets…). Today the firm is led by the three children of the founders, Bruno, Giuliano and Francesco, who have renewed the brand by combining modern techniques with traditional ones, in a kind of affirmation of Venetian tradition and its techniques. Additionally, today the firm collaborates with other houses and artists, working on designs ranging from the most traditional to the most modern. They are renowned for luxury, elegance, rich decoration and attention to detail, all of which give rise to absolute works of art, as unique as they are beautiful.

Shipping: The buyer will pay for shipping according to the dimensions, weight and destination. We will contact you to arrange this and agree on the budget. Shipping costs include professional tailor-made packaging and customized shipping, with tracking number and warranty. DUE TO THE SIZE AND FRAGILITY OF THE PIECE, IT IS PREFERRED TO AGREE ON SHIPPING WITH THE BUYER. CURRENT COSTS ARE ESTIMATED. A CUSTOM WOODEN CRATE WILL BE REQUIRED FOR SHIPMENT.

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