A.V. Mazzega - Carlo Nason - Vase - S509 - Glass, Metal

Vase Model S509, designed by Carlo Nason for A.V. Mazzega – 1969. A rare example of mid-20th-century Murano art glass.

Entirely handmade in Murano, this iconic piece stands out for its strongly sculptural profile.

The body, a wide tube of gray smoked glass, is characterized by a distinctive central constriction that creates an unusual crosswise compression effect.

The glass seems to flow fluidly and naturally over the raw steel frame, evoking organic forms reminiscent of a clover, a mushroom, or a plant.

This contrast between the softness of the glass and the industrial rigor of the metal base is the project’s hallmark: it softens the structure and turns the vase into a true micro-sculpture, as well as a functional object.

The pairing of the cool transparency of the smoked glass with the materiality of steel enhances the sense of balance, proportion, and material research typical of Nason.

An object that changes continually depending on the viewpoint, playing with light, shadows, and reflections for a visually ever-changing effect.

A collectible piece that perfectly embodies the meeting of Murano’s great artisanal tradition and the experimental, avant-garde drive of postwar Italian design.

Similar-model photo and list of models with sketches taken from the book Carlo Nason “Glass Designer 1959/2020” published by Silvana Editore