Details about  CZECH M.KLINGER Azure/Sapphire SOMMERSO ENGRAVED NIGHTINGALE VASE -Signed

DESCRIPTION:   for reference please see Mark Hill's -Hi Sklo Lo Sklo Publication - Pages 46 - 49 for many other sublimely understated Klinger designs.  Please also see my other current Czech Beranek organic swirling amethyst vase which also displays a sublime azure sommerso element.

Absolutely stunning uniquely innovative off-hand sculptural and beautifully engraved and signed vase from the world acclaimed Czech design artist - Miloslav Klinger, in a sublime deep azure or petrol blue, embellished with a sublime shimmering broad band of sapphire blue sommerso. The piece has two distinctive asymmetrical elements and in only symmetrical in one respect. Miloslav Klinger is internationally acclaimed at producing innovative, sculptural ' off hand ' designs which to me are all the more beautiful as sculptural stand alone pieces of artglass. Pieces such as this started my passions for ' liquid ' flowing artglass designs over 35 years ago. I must at the outset apologise for the above photo's as they do not convey its stunning subtle asymmetrical shape, which was extremely difficult to capture in 2D form. The piece starts with a highly polished oval base pontil. The vase then ascends and slightly tapers outwards to merge and transform into two curvaceous complimentary crystal clear wings. The asymmetrical opposing wings flank and encapsulate the vases main elongated body based on an elongated oval form. This, however, is when all decriptions of symmetry end. The aforementioned superbly curvaceous rounded lobed wings provided the perfect complimentary frame to the magical sommerso and engraved elements contained within. The two wings, eventually start to recede and disapate forming gently tapering slopes that lead the eye up to the vases reduced mouthrim. The latter has been ' pulled ' to one side whereby its asymmetrical slightly upturned right hand summit adds another dimension and extra flowing artistic interest. The second and almost impossible to photograph asymmetrical element refers to the vases main body. As the piece ascends upwards the elongated vase transforms into a slightly flattened and slightly bulbous body that in itself appears to emanate from its two contoured wings. However is is only true of the piece's left hand side. The right dispalys an almost imperceptable shallow recess that vertical dissects the vases main body from its right hand contoured wings. This restrained, extremely subtle asymmetrical form takes the piece onto another level of innovative artglass magic. The aformentioned vertical depression acn just about be seen in photo 1 whereby this shallow depression merges into the vase main body just above its superlative engraving. The vase has an elongated tapering inner well which is of an exquisite deep azure or petrol/paraffin blue colouration. Oh dear.....paraffin really defines my era !!! Its elongated form is closely encapsulated or shadowed with a quite exquisite and mesmirising broad band of sapphire blue band of sommerso. This shimmering exquisite element is one of the most devine sommerso colours I have ever witnessed in over 37 years of collecting artglass from all over the world. The sommerso band is much brighter and of a more intense blue, which duly compliments and heightens the more subtly restrained azure blue of its internal well. The vase is finally embellished with a sublimely engraved Nightingale resting on a thin angled leaf strewn branch. The Nightingale, thrush or songbird is superbly and deeply engraved into the vase's thick walled body using the sandblasted technique. The engraved songbird has a layered multi layered finish whereby its folded wings, breast and tail feathers are of an even deeper cut. The bird is superbly angled on the diagonal whilst its central position is framed by the piece's azure blue internal well. The vases's exquisite broad sapphire blue sommerso band accentuates and heightens the precise and very detailed plummage of its feathers. The bird rests on a thin S shaped branch embellished with a profusion of delicate leaves and gracefully hanging smaller lower branches also strewn with foliage. The piece is a tour-de-force of minimalist asymmetrical shape or form and has the added distinction of being embellished with an amazing halo of shimmering sommerso and a signed engraved Nightingale engraved composition of some note. The vases's internal well, sommerso band, engraved songbird and sublime colouration are all heightened and accentuated by its crystal clear contoured symmetrical wings which shimmer and glisten in both natural and unnatural light. The piece is simply a joy and proves the worth of the old adage....whereby, less is....very often more   The subsequent interplay between clear and subdued colour is both fluid and very striking.  Miloslav Klinger was a key designer at Zelezny Brod for nearly 40 years which began in 1948. He was born in 1922 whereby in a contemporary & indeed innovative sense.... he was so very far.... ahead of his time. This piece is only one of many that we possess and is a perfect example of his exceptionally restrained but breathtakingly beautiful understated sculptural designs. The piece has the strengths of simplicity, restrained colour, symmetrical form, clean lines, sommerso embellishment, superlative engraved songbird and a minimalistic touch of class that heralds & exemplifies ... a late, and unashamedly great Czechoslovakian glass master.

CONDITION – SIZE – WEIGHT – MARKS

Condition of the off-hand asymmetrical sculptural and beaitifully engraved vase is absolutely perfect and pristine with no chips, dents, cracks, abrasions, nibbles, scratches or water damage at all. The highly polished bevelled circular base pontil is also in a pristine condition and scratch free condition. The piece measures 5.1 "  ( 13 cms ) in height with a diameter of  2.85 " ( 7.5 cms. ). The piece weighs in at  390 gms. The original oval gold and black label is also in a pristine condition - Bohemia Hand Made - Veselou - Czech Republic in capitals and - Atelier, in flowing script. The deeply cut, tooled and engraved bird resting on a branch and associated foliage is signed in flowing script, what appears to read -  J. Hofmann - Please see the last photo for label and close up of signature.

NB:

Please see my other listings of Scandinavian, English & European artglass & Limited & signed,  unlimited & limited edition paperweights including Orrefors, Riihimaki, Alsterfors, P.O.Strom, Afors, Iittala, Ernest Gordon, Pukeberg, Hadeland, Hald, Holmegaard, Skruf, Stromberg, Kosta, Kosta Boda, Johansfors, Palmqvist, Nanny Still, Flygsfors, Edenfalk and Lindstrand, Murano, Sommerso, Poli, Venini, Cenedese, Seguso, Tagliapietra, Wirkkala, Nylund, Sarpaneva, Loetz, Strathearn, Monart and Perthshire, Caithness & Selkirk Limited Edition paperweights, Norman Stuart-Clarke, Wedgwood, Bertil Vallien, Ulrica Hydman-Vallien, Keith Murray, Whitefriars, Czech Beranek, Klinger, Hlava, Hospodka amongst many many others listed and to be listed – with much more to come each month & watch for literally 100’s of other glass & china items over the next few months/years !! - which represents 35 odd years of avid collecting from around the world & far too many fairs & auctions etc. We’ve added 2 generations of the families ‘treasures’ making 19 very, very large boxes/containers to wade through. The glass to come will include many pieces from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic, Bavaria, Bohemia, The Isle of Wight, England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Malta & The United States to name but a few ! Mostly all in pristine condition; we have a passion for glass above all of our other collections. Each piece is either handed down or bought with design & beauty in mind – the collection encompassing both clear & coloured glass. Also, to keep all collectors & our regular buyers happy, I can only list a few Mdina, Murano, Caithness Limited Edition & Whitefriars etc a month – restraints being time, tiredness, stamina & the need to sleep ! As we are getting on in years we sincerely hope that our vast collection will reach new families who can appreciate the beauty & infinite variety of glass of the 20^th Century – thanks.

I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO HOLD ITEMS  ie  TO COMBINE – AND HELP YOU WITH THE NEVER ENDING POSTAGE INCREMENTS.

JUST AN EMAIL IS SUFFICIENT WHEN THE FIRST ITEM IS SOLD & YOU INTEND BIDDING ON FURTHER ITEMS.

Glenn