Bowl in battuto glass with “veiled” upper band

The archaic evocations of ancient glass were one of Carlo Scarpa's chief sources of inspiration in creating objects of timeless beauty in the 1940s. His bowls with honeycomb battuto finish are clearly a tribute to the Roman models of sfaccettati glass that can be dated to the mid-1st century C.E. The flawless execution of these examples demonstrates both the pains Scarpa took in designing each piece and the extraordinary skill of Franz Pelzel, the engraver.

Expounding on glass bowls at one of his last lessons at the IUAV Venice University of Architecture, Scarpa explained that even a perfect cylindrical form required enhancement by the material, thickness, and quality of execution.

Previously unpublished