Vase with Serpent

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Object Name: 
Vase with Serpent
Accession Number: 
62.3.133
Dimensions: 
Overall H: 43 cm
Location: 
On Display
Date: 
1958
Web Description: 
Designs for Czech glass after 1945 are widely respected for their originality and innovation. Like mid-century Italian and Scandinavian glass, Czech glass was influenced by contemporary art. What distinguishes Czech glass of the period, however, is the artists’ treatment of glass as a medium for abstract painting and sculpture. Abstraction in the fine arts was not permitted by the Czechoslovak communist government. This piece was exhibited in “Glass 1959”.
Provenance: 
Skloexport, Liberec, Former Collection
1962-10
Primary Description: 
Colorless non-lead glass, transparent amethyst and reddish-brown enamel, opaque black enamel; blown glass, enameled by hand, lustred, fired. Tall cylinder that tapers in slightly towards lipless opening ground flat; lower 3/4 of walls decorated with overall amethyst background overlaid on one side with stylized vertical zig-zag snake whose body extends entire length of vase with head at top (open mouth, reddish-brown forked tongue, black fangs), body covered with irregular black and colorless diamond scales, head covered with small colorless circles with black centers on black background, large eye with amethyst ring and reddish-brown pupil, entire body outlined with black points, end of tail loops and splits; solid base, no pontil; unsigned.
Venue(s)
Corning Museum of Glass 2002-05-16 through 2002-10-21
National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library 2003-02-28 through 2003-09-28
Corning Incorporated Gallery
Glass 1959: A Special Exhibition of International Contemporary Glass
Venue(s)
Corning Museum of Glass 1959 through 1959
 
Glass 1959: A Special Exhibition of International Contemporary Glass (1959) illustrated, p. 73, pl. 40; BIB# 27614