One of Twenty-Three Sheets of Drawings of Glassware (Mirrors, Chandeliers, Goblets, etc.) 1850 - 1880

Curator: This work, dating from between 1850 and 1880, is titled "One of Twenty-Three Sheets of Drawings of Glassware (Mirrors, Chandeliers, Goblets, etc.)" and is attributed to the Compagnia di Venezia e Murano. It’s currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We see a drawing, likely executed with ink and watercolor. Editor: My first thought? Whimsy. These sketches feel like captured daydreams, floral explosions frozen in elegant chandeliers. The faded palette almost makes it feel like looking at ghosts of parties past. Curator: Absolutely, and considering the Compagnia di Venezia e Murano's role in decorative art, these designs offered luxurious statements. Wall brackets with candle light became status symbols, showcasing both wealth and refined taste during the late 19th century. Editor: They definitely have that "gilded age" vibe. But what gets me is the immediacy of the sketch. The little handwritten notes there on the paper. You get a sense of the artist, in their studio, thinking, adjusting... that intimacy. Like a whisper across time. Curator: These sheets, conceived for manufacture, represent a significant moment in the democratisation of luxury. The printing process allows for the distribution of models that influence local styles and production standards in glasswork. The circulation of prints created and standardized stylistic currents. Editor: Democratization, huh? Interesting spin! To me, these designs have a fragile elegance, a touch of fleeting beauty that mass production can sometimes miss. I wonder if those who acquired the actual chandeliers appreciated the artistry in designs like this, the very heart of their decor? Curator: Undoubtedly, such works on paper acted as powerful conduits. Designs influenced clientele choice as well as inspired craftsmen creating in all types of media to new styles. This one drawing then connects artisan to patron to audience through time. Editor: In the end, each sketch speaks to that simple urge: to capture beauty, even just for a moment, before the light changes. They manage to feel precious and ephemeral, as if about to shatter at any moment, like a beautiful dream made of glass.