Contemporary Murano Glass Watermelon Sculpture by Designer Luciani Vistosi (1931-2010). Signed and dated 1993 by the artist. On black glass base measures 6x3x4.50". Weight is 1 pd 9 oz. PROVENANCE: Descendents of the Corning Glass Works. Luciano Vistosi was born in Murano in 1931 and spent his childhood and most of his teenage years working by his family's kiln, where he learns the techniques to discover the moods, colours, sounds and tastes of the old tradition of master glass craftsmen. Following his father’s death in 1952, Vistosi founded the new Vetreria Vistosi with his uncle Oreste and brother Gino with the aim of making products linked to the latest developments in design. He also involved some leading firms, such as Aulenti, Sottsass, Magistretti, Zanuso, and Peduzzi. He concentrated above all on lighting, producing new products, including some famous series of wall sconces. But what appealed most to him was sculpture.In his artistic development as “sculptor”, Vistosi tested various techniques other than blown glass. Some works are sculpted from enormous blocks of rough glass in line with the “art of removal” typical of sculpting marble. These blocks were obtained using industrial glass, as in the case of his famous project for the Accademia Bridge. This was in the mid-1980s. At that same time, the artist was making houses and skyscrapers of transparent glass measuring up to a metre high. Architectural sculptures boasting a strong appeal thanks to their geometric perfection and underlying desire to open the way to a more liveable city, they were shown with sea-green crystal works and randi in the artist’s workshop at Murano, just a short distance from the Museo del Vetro.

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