'FIGURINA AFRICANA', A RARE SCULPTURE, MODEL 4921, 1953-1954

In late 1940s graphic designer and artist Fulvio Bianconi began a fruitful collaboration with Paolo Venini, which contributed to the enormous success of the famous furnace in the following years. Unusual, often irregular, forms together with some bold chromatic choices and the reinterpretation of classical techniques became trademarks of Bianconi’s creations in glass. Emblematic of his style is the series of small glass sculptures inspired by African statuettes in ebony that Bianconi created in 1954. The pieces from Africane series were designed in primitive style and depicted women in colourful dresses, each with a different headpiece carefully conceived by Bianconi. The present lot is a rare example from this series: deep amethyst glass is used for the main body, whilst the dress and headpiece are created with murrine and lattimo glass revealing Bianconi’s innovative take on glass.