An extraordinary sculptural ashtray created by Gianfranco Mandruzzato in Murano between the 1960s and 1970s, an emblematic example of his research on submerged glass and faceted geometry.
The work has a compact and monumental shape, achieved through the superposition of several layers of colored glass: an internal core of cobalt blue glass is immersed in a significant amber layer and subsequently incorporated into a thick crystalline shell.
The upper and lateral surfaces are hand-ground with diamond precision to create perfectly polished geometric planes, while the lower part is left deliberately irregular and material, with a “ice-cold” texture typical of the Mandruzzato workshop.
This dialogue between sharp transparencies and rough surfaces creates a sculptural contrast of great plastic force: light enters, is captured by the thicknesses and returned through warm, deep tones that recall the submerged glass of Murano's finest tradition. The faceted, rigorous and architectural cut is a distinctive feature of Mandruzzato workmanship in the ’60s, a period in which the family brought grinding wheel work to the highest levels of Venetian glass design.
A decorative object of great presence, heavy, balanced and iconic, perfect for collectors of Murano glass and for modern environments that enhance sculptural pieces with a strong visual impact.