There are few things in the world more captivating than Venetian glass, and Valentine's Day is an excellent time to hold an auction of dazzlingly beautiful things.
A German auctioneer is set to offer more than 500 items of fine design on February 14 by world-class designers from Italy, Germany, Scandinavia and the USA, which will particularly feature a fine selection of Murano glass from several periods.
Perhaps the greatest highlight is Alessandro Pianon's 1962 creation "Pulcino" bird, made by Vetreria Vistosi.
 The beguilling Pulcino bird in Murano glass by Alessandro Pianon |
The foot-long avian combines clear cased glass with a beautiful green layer and red and blue murrhines bands. Standing on copper wire legs, it is topped off with fused murrhines eyes, and is likely to soar above its estimate of €2,400-2,800 ($3,190-$3,720).
The most valuable items in the sale are probably those credited to that German master of design, the artistand architect Stefan Werweka.
Starting out as an architect, Werweka developed into an object artist, with the humble forms of desk and chair becoming his preferred mediums. Indeed a Cologne gallery presented an installation of his chairs in 1971.
 Not great for your sitting posture - Stefan Wewerka's Class Room Chair |
One of his most striking pieces is the Class Room Chair (1970) which appears in this auction, estimated at €5,000-6,000 ($6,645-$7,975).
Ettore Sottsass made a similar journey from architect to artist during his career, and his famous Casablanca sideboard designed by Sottsass will sell with the same estimate.
