The first appointment of 2023 dedicated to 20th century decorative arts will be held on Monday 27 February 2023 in the spaces of Cambi Casa d’Aste in Milan. 

An auction in two rounds that will feature in the morning a selection of early 20th century French glassware, created by the greatest masters of the time, alongside ceramic works of Italian and European production, ranging from the early 20th century to the 1970s. The afternoon session, on the other hand, is entirely dedicated to Murano Glass Art with a collection of more than two hundred pieces dating from the 1920s to the present day.

The 20th Century Glasses and Ceramics auction, as Marco Arosio, head of the 20th Century Decorative Arts Department, states, "is a selection of objects of great quality representing the best of artistic production in Italy and Europe. The 20th century was the most innovative and richest century in terms of conception and creation in the Decorative Arts. All the objects in the auction, for the era in which they were created, are of great fascination for new collectors and fit well into contemporary furniture. “

Among the works on offer is a monumental vase by Émile Gallé created in Nancy in the early 20th century, with a cameo delphinium decoration and large leaves. Also from the fire, a group of wrought iron lamps by the three major Italian masters Alessandro Mazzucotelli, Carlo Rizzarda and Umberto Bellotto. A masterpiece of the Art Nouveau style is a rare ceramic vase by Galileo Chini with applied handles in the form of snakes and metallic lustre decorations. Among the masterpieces of the 1920s, on the other hand, is a majolica vase designed by Pietro Melandri decorated with polychrome enamel branches and flowers on a pure gold background, framing two centaur figures. Of course, Gio Ponti, Italy's greatest architect, cannot be missing from a 20th century auction, with two plates from the Le mie donne series, masterpieces executed at the pittoria di Doccia in Sesto Fiorentino in 1925 to his design. Futurism combined with the Art Deco taste of airbrush decoration distinguishes an important nucleus of ceramics created by Rometti in Umbertide, by Galvani in Pordenone, by Tosin La Freccia in Vicenza. The post-war period is well represented by a rare bowl by Enzo Mari of limited production for Danese Milano and two ceramics by Ettore Sottsass for Bitossi in Montelupo.

The second round in the afternoon, entirely dedicated to Murano, began with early blown glassware from the 1920s by Vittorio Zecchin and some rare objects by Carlo Scarpa for MVM Cappellin. The auction then will continue with more creations by Carlo Scarpa for Venini and many vases designed by Ercole Barovier, from the 1930s to the 1970s, some probably unique. A work of great value, which earns the cover of the catalogue, is a sculpture that came out of the furnaces of Egidio Costantini's La Fucina degli Angeli glassworks, designed by Max Ernst in 1968. In the auction, a rich selection of objects to embellish and furnish one's home, such as portrait holders with a twisted glass frame, sets of glasses, bottles and lamps designed by great masters such as Fulvio Bianconi and Gio Ponti and made by Venini. Finally, an extraordinary collection of multi-layered submerged glass by Flavio Poli, designed for Seguso Vetri d'Arte and Vetreria Cenedese in Murano.


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Experts for the auction
Marco Arosio

20th Century Decorative Arts

Marco Arosio
Carola D´Ambrosio

20th Century Decorative Arts

Carola D'Ambrosio