Fish and Eel Vase

Copied Vittorio Zanetti, Fish and Eel Vase, ca. 1890, blown and applied hot-worked glass, 12 × 4 1⁄4 × 5 1⁄4 in. (30.5 × 10.8 × 13.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly, 1929.8.469.2
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Fish and Eel Vase
Artist
attributed to Vittorio Zanetti
Manufacturer
Compagnia di Venezia e Murano (CVM)
Date
ca. 1890
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
12 × 4 1⁄4 × 5 1⁄4 in. (30.5 × 10.8 × 13.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John Gellatly
Mediums Description
blown and applied hot-worked glass
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — fish
Object Number
1929.8.469.2
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1929.8.469.2

Artwork Description

This vase has no historical precedent. Its entwined sea creatures are masterworks of glassblowing prowess, while its speckled, radiant colors advertise the many formulas developed by Murano's artisans. Glass fish, seahorses, ships, gondolas, and other maritime subjects were common in revival-era glassware and likely had special appeal as souvenirs of the island city.

Sargent, Whistler, and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano, 2021.