Product Description
Christian Thomsen / RC Denmark Rare “Frog and Dragonfly” Art Nouveau vase 1901
CHRISTIAN THOMSEN (1860-1921) Denmark
ROYAL COPENHAGEN
“Frog and Dragonfly” vase 1901
Glazed porcelain with a frog in 3-D sculptural relief looking at a dragonfly seated on a calla lily leaf looking up at the blossom.
Form number 280
Marks: ROYAL COPENHAGEN, CROWN, 465/250, 3 wavy lines (Royal Copenhagen) insignia, inscribed A. 250
For more information see: Musterbuch KPF, um 1930, Illustration number 204; Porzellan, Kunst und Design 1889 bis 1939, vom Jugendstil zum Funktionalismus (Berlin: Bröhan-Museum, 1993) p. 467, ill. 435; Sammlung Bröhan: Kunsthandwerk 2, Metall, Porzellan (Berlin: Bröhan Museum, 1977), pp. 222-285.
H: 9″ x Dia: 3 1/2″
Christian Thomsen was employed at the Royal Porcelain Manufactory (Royal Copenhagen) in 1898, and was employed there until his death in 1921. Thomsen is said to have had a huge impact on Royal Copenhagen’s success throughout the 20th century. A large part of the recognition by the Royal Porcelain Factory has enjoyed over the years, they can thank Christian Thomsen for. He produced more than 100 different figurines, especially he had a fondness for agricultural characters, children figurines, figurines inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, fauns and trolls, and not least charming animals and bird figures.
Christian Thomsen / RC Denmark Rare “Frog and Dragonfly” Art Nouveau vase 1901
FLAVIO POLI (1900-1984) Italy
SEGUSO VETRI D’ARTE Italy
Vase c. 1950’s
Asymmetric vase in a dark brown Murano glass cased inside with a layer of pale green and clear glass
H: 10 1/2″ x W: 5 1/2″ x D: 2 3/4″
Price: $4,000
Designer, businessman, ceramic artist. Born in Chioggia, he attended the Istituto d’Arte di Venezia and began work as a designer in ceramics. in 1929 he switched to glass and for Libero Vitali’s I.V.A.M. he designed animals, splendid Novecento-style nude figures in massiccio glass, as well as bowls and urns with figures resting on the inside, on lids or as handles. He subsequently collaborated with the Compagnia di Venezia e Murano, with the furnace of Mario and Lino Nason and with the engraver Gino Francesconi. in 1934 he accepted the artistic direction of Barovier, Seguso & Ferro, later to become Seguso Vetri d’Arte, and became partner three years later. Together with the master of the principal team Archimede Seguso, Poli was the author of grandiose lighting installations, of corroded vessels, of sculptures in bulicante glass, of animals in massiccio glass shaped while hot, productions which represented a milestone in the development of Murano glass. At the height of his artistic maturity, in the years between 1950 and 1960 he designed a series of sommerso glass pieces in a Nordic style, essential forms and sharp cold colors, which were awarded prestigious prizes (Compasso d’Oro). After leaving Seguso in 1963, between 1964 and 1966 he organized the artistic glass division at the Societˆ Veneziana di Conterie e Cristallerie.