Description
Battuto cut glass cigar ashtray from a master glass maker in Mid-Century Italy.
Battuto is an Italian decor technique using small hand-incised directional cuts to create an overall pattern on the outer surface of the glass object. It is a very difficult surface treatment and rarely seen.
The famed Lino Tagliapietra used the Battuto technique on some of his masterpieces. He came to America from his birthplace in Italy in the mid 20th century and taught his remarkable skills at the Pilchuck School of Art in the Pacific Northwest. Although we cannot attribute this unmarked ashtray to the Master himself, it is a good possibility. Examples of other known makers of Battuto glass are Val Saint Lambert (Belgium), Carlo Scarpa, Venini, Gio Ponti (Italian) and more.
Solid chunk of quality vintage sommerso glass. The outer colorless translucent layer glows light green under black-light revealing the presence of Manganese, used during the World Wars to replace lead, and again in 1950’s Italy. Solid black opaque glass is encased inside the colorless glass.
Completely hand-made. The Battuto decor was hand-ground and polished. Heavy art glass ashtray weighs 3.10 lbs. Measures 5½” wide and 3″ tall. Four 1¾ wide level cradle rests accommodate any size smoke balancing well above the deep ash well.
When viewing from the side, this art glass creation appears solid black, like chiseled ebony. See image 4.
The base (or seat) is polished flat with appropriate heavy bottom-wear (tiny scratches caused by surface contact over the years, especially evident on heavy glass items). In very good condition considering its age and weight. No chips, cracks or discoloration. It has a couple of ‘bumps’ on the exterior, very small marks where the ashtray bumped into something hard. Can’t be seen unless examined very closely.
Estimated circa 1920’s to 1950. Rare and stunning art glass ashtray.
