Vaso Cielo

Giampaolo Seguso began his career in glass by working in the studio of his father, the widely respected maestro Archimede Seguso. Archimede, who designed and made work for his own glasshouse, Seguso Vetri d’Arte, is a well-known name in 20thcentury Italian glass. Giampaolo worked with him for nearly 30 years, learning the historical culture of glassmaking along with his father’s exceptional techniques. He founded his own glassworks, Seguso Viro, in 1993. The series “La Ragnatela” is the second part of a three-part project that Seguso calls “La Galleria dei 99.” Each part of the project has its own theme inspired by the history of Murano, its glass, and its decorative techniques. The project is documented in books that illustrate the 33 glass objects of each series, which is limited to 99 editions. The first part of Seguso’s project explored the technique that is known as incalmo. In this process, two identical bubbles of glass—most often of different colors—are joined together on the blowpipe. The second part, “La Ragnatela,” examines the techniques of filigrana (“filigree” glass decorated with white or colored canes) and murrine. The word ragnatela (spider web) refers to the long, thin lines and complex patterns of Seguso’s filigrana vases. The third and final part of the series, “I Sogni” (Dreams), will explore the topic of creativity within tradition. Signed: “GPaulo Seguso/Murano1996” and edition number on base. The series is published in Rosa Barovier Mentasti, La Galleria dei 99: La Ragnatela, [Italy]: NOS, 2001.