ERCOLE BAROVIER (1889-1974)

The distinctive netted lace-like characteristics of Primavera glass evolved from experimental trials Ercole Barovier was undertaking with chemicals and glass components. The element responsible for the unevenness in colour and texture, which confers the glass its characteristic white crackled netting, was linked specifically to a single batch of mixture delivered to the Vetreria Artistica Barovier around 1930. Its chemical components were never fully identified and the production of works using Primavera glass was limited to the amount of the mixture available. The present lot is a rare example of a fish, one of the few animal forms from the Primavera series which was first presented in occasion of the IV Monza Triennale, in 1930, and subsequently at the XVII Venice Biennale, 1931 (illustrated). Only one other example of a Primavera fish is known to date, featuring blue glass details as opposed to black pasta vitrea as featured in the present lot.