Bottle - • Hand-blown glass bottle

If you are looking for a piece of antiques capable of telling a story, this liquor bottle with flask is a small masterpiece from the late 19th century, dating to around 1880–1890. Made in the prestigious Venetian glassmaking district, it combines the delicacy of blown glass with the refined elegance of silver. The piece stands out for the unique charm of its stylistic contrast: the perfect balance between the neobaroque taste of its metal components and the surprising modernity of the engraving on the glass. The mouth and the dramatic stopper are made of genuine silver, chemically tested. The body of the bottle is intact, without flaws or chips, and ready to enrich a shop window, a collection, or a prestigious home bar. Floral Iconography and the Roots of Art Nouveau The true strength of this artifact lies in the splendid central panel, entirely hand-cut with a lathe. The iconography chosen by the artisan is not mere academy decoration, but reflects the artistic ferment of late century Europe, standing as a perfect example of the transition toward Art Nouveau (Liberty style in Italy). The sinuously twisting tendrils, recalling the spontaneity of wild primroses and field daisies, show a deep connection with the nascent aesthetic of the Coup de Fouet (whiplash) of Art Nouveau. The finely serrated leaves and the asymmetric branches abandon the rigid geometry of previous decades to follow a sinuous, dynamic, organic course. It is the celebration of nature captured in its vital, asymmetric movement. The Venetian engraver skillfully interpreted this avant-garde current with superb technique, creating a sophisticated play of light and shade: the matte satin of the petals gradually fades inward to give three-dimensional volume, while the veins remain crisp, scratched on the crystal with extremely fine points. Above this natural scene, a strict festooned band with polished diamond dots frames the design, creating a geometric transition designed to make the glass shine and amplify the color reflections of the liquor. The Stopper: An Eclectic Design Gem The silver stopper grip is an element of the highest collectible value. The silversmith shaped a punched medallion form defined by elegant neobaroque volutes and topped with a small decorative pinnacle. This design is not by chance: it perfectly embodies the spirit of late 19th-century Eclecticism. If the glass anticipates Liberty (Art Nouveau), the stopper pays homage to Venezia’s glorious goldsmithing past of the 18th century. Beyond visual beauty, the perforated shape also serves a precise ergonomic function, designed to offer a firm and secure grip for the fingers when serving the liquor. Dimensions and Technical Sheet • Overall height: 25 cm (including the stopper) • Width: 9 cm • Depth: 8 cm • Era: Late 19th Century (Umbertine period) • Origin: Venetian artistic manufacture / Murano • Materials: Superior sounding glass, natural single-block cork, authentic silver tested Historical Notes on Authenticity An expert eye recognizes the value of an object by its hidden details. This bottle retains all the physical and historical marks of its centennial manufacture: The absence of visible hallmark stamps on the silver should not mislead you. In 19th-century Venice, it was a very common practice: master glassmakers ordered collars and caps from local silversmiths in small batches, often evading assay taxes on the metal. The authenticity and purity of the silver have nonetheless been successfully verified by chemical tests. The stopper preserves its original single-block cork from the period, carved from a single natural section (not pressed) and still shows the antique silversmith’s putty at the junction with the silver-scroll grip, in splendid dark patina. Turning the base over reveals a rough circular area in the center. This is the pontello mark, or the scar formed when the master detached the metal rod after blowing the glass with the mouth-blown method. It is the ultimate proof that the object was shaped entirely freehand without the aid of industrial molds. Under the silver rim of the mouth you can glimpse the same yellowish paste. It is the original era plaster made from gypsum and natural resins, used to seal metal to glass, acting as a cushion and preventing breakage. Finally, on the inner bottom you can notice very small dark sediments: crystallized sugar residues from old rosols and elixirs evaporated over a century, which we have preserved to maintain the piece’s historic essence.

估價:$168.39

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