Dino Martens. Byzantine series vase for Avem

DINO MARTENS (Italy, 1894 - 1970) for Avem.
Vase of the Byzantine series.
Blown glass "tutti-fruti" or "end-of-the day" technique.
Catalogued in "Avem. Arte Vetraria Muranese-Artistic Production 1932-1972".
It presents a small blowing defect in one of the crests.
Measurements: 41 x 26 x 12 cm.

The Byzantine series became one of the most commercial and durable series of the glass factory Avem. Made from seemingly randomly inlaid scraps - which provided popular denominations such as "end-of-the day" or "tutti-frutti" - this technique was applied in a wide variety of objects, both artistic and domestic. Despite the appearance of technical simplicity, these five-layer vases required the execution of a skilled master blower. Introduced in 1953, new models were added in the following years.

Dino Martens was an Italian painter and designer particularly known for his work in glass trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti . He exhibited his paintings at the Venice Biennale (1924-1930) and, after his return from the African wars in Italy, became artistic director of Aureliano Toso (the famous Venetian glass works). He remained there for many years producing many outstanding works using traditional Venetian techniques, but producing some original effects, "daring" asymmetrical forms, the designs often characterized by their obvious difficulty of execution.