What Do You See? The Collection of Sidney Rothberg, Part IV

Please note that this work does not include the glass leaves, which were part of the original design.

Provenance:

Christie's, New York, sale of October 6, 1988, lot 146.

Christie's East, New York, sale of May 9, 1989, lot 137.

Acquired directly from the above.

Lot Essay:

Egidio Costantini, born in Brindisi, Italy in 1912, was a pivotal figure in the world of Murano glass art. In 1950, he founded the Centro Studio Pittori nell’Arte del Vetro di Murano, collaborating with Venetian artists like Gino Krayer, Fioravante Seibezzi, and Armando Tonello to transform their designs into glass masterpieces. The Centro organized its inaugural exhibition in Murano on April 18, 1953, which subsequently traveled to Treviso, Perugia, and Rome.

In 1954, Costantini traveled to Paris, where he met artists such as Alexander Calder and Gino Severini. He also connected with Spanish painter Pedro Flores, who introduced him to Pablo Picasso. This meeting led to collaborations with renowned artists, including Marc Chagall, Max Ernst and Picasso, resulting in truly unique glass sculptures.

In 1955, the Centro Studio dissolved, and Costantini established his own gallery in Venice.

Jean Cocteau, the multifaceted French artist, bestowed the poetic name "Fucina degli Angeli" (The Forge of Angels) upon this new gallery, symbolizing a creative haven where artists (the "angels") could collaborate on glass masterpieces.

Cocteau's involvement extended beyond naming the gallery; he actively collaborated with Costantini, contributing designs that were transformed into exquisite glass artworks. One notable piece is Face: Dream, a bright yellow, horned glass head, bearing Cocteau's signature, produced by Fucina degli Angeli. 

Despite initial success, the gallery faced challenges, closing in 1958. It reopened in 1961 with financial support from Peggy Guggenheim, who showcased Fucina's works in her Venetian palace.

Throughout his career, Costantini collaborated with numerous 20th-century masters, including Oskar Kokoschka, Le Corbusier, and Jean Arp, solidifying his reputation as the "master of the masters" in glass artistry.