POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Murano glass goblet

Object No. A5

This goblet is a fine example of the pagliesco (amber coloured) blown glass made by Venice & Murano Glass and Mosaic Co in Murano and retailed by Compagnia di Venezia e Murano (both formerly Salviati & Co) in London, England. The company employed the best glass blowers, designers and technicians available in order to create the intricate designs.This goblet was acquired in 1889 from the recently expanded London branch popularly known as Compagnia di Venezia e Murano. The initial success of the firm relied much of the writings of the English critic John Ruskin's in which he declared the glass of Venice to be vastly superior to the English cut crystal that dominated the market. The piece is significant both because of its connection to the Museum's early collection, as well as to one of the leading glass manufacturers of the late 19th century. Numbered A5, this goblet was the fifth applied arts object acquired into the Museum's collection, and is part of a collection 26 pieces of Murano glass that were purchased by the Museum in 1889, just a few years after its establishment. It follows A1 (a plaster cast figurine, 'Shou Lao'), A2 and A3 (which were both loans), and A4 (a glass tumbler from the same collection of Murano glass). The purchase of this glass collection was made by the Museum with the intention of inspiring local creative industries. Eva Czernis-Ryl, Curator, and Sarah Reeves, Assistant Curator, October 2019