Rosenthal Glasstudio “Fadenglas” Vase – Mario Colelli & Hertha Bengtson · Limited Edition, Germany
A highly refined example of Rosenthal’s Glasstudio program, this sculptural glass vase embodies the sophisticated dialogue between Italian glassmaking virtuosity and Northern European design clarity. Designed by Mario Colelli in collaboration with Hertha Bengtson, the piece belongs to Rosenthal’s late 20th-century efforts to elevate glass into the realm of limited, collectible design objects.
Executed in hand-blown glass using the traditional filigrana (Fadenglas) technique, the vase incorporates fine linear threads of black and vibrant orange-red suspended within clear crystal. These threads spiral concentrically around the central opening, producing a striking optical vortex. The effect is kinetic: as light shifts, the pattern appears to rotate, intensify, and dissolve—transforming the object into a visual event rather than a static vessel.
The form is low, wide, and toroidal—almost disc-like—emphasizing horizontality and optical depth. The central aperture punctuates the composition, drawing the eye inward while reinforcing the centrifugal movement of the filigrana pattern. Despite its modest height, the piece asserts itself as a sculptural object of high precision and visual intensity.
**Dimensions:**
Height: 11.5 cm
Diameter: 23 cm
Opening: approx. 5 cm
**Material:** Hand-blown glass
**Technique:** Filigrana / Fadenglas
**Finish:** Glossy
**Color:** Black, orange-red, and clear
**Manufacturer:** Rosenthal Glasstudio
**Origin:** Germany (with Murano technique influence)
**Edition:** Limited edition of 200
**Model:** 009-3/200
**Condition:**
Excellent vintage condition. No chips, cracks, or restorations. Minor internal inclusions may be present, inherent to the filigrana process and consistent with hand-crafted studio glass.
**About the Designers – Mario Colelli & Hertha Bengtson**
Mario Colelli, associated with Murano glassmaking traditions, brought deep technical expertise in complex cane and filigrana techniques. His work is characterized by precision, control, and a mastery of optical layering within glass.
Hertha Bengtson (1917–1993), one of Scandinavia’s most influential modernist designers, is best known for her work with Rosenthal. Trained in the Swedish functionalist tradition, she contributed a disciplined formal language—clarity, proportion, and restraint. Her collaboration with Colelli represents a rare and compelling intersection: Italian craftsmanship meeting Scandinavian modernism under the umbrella of German industrial culture.
**Design Context**
Rosenthal’s Glasstudio program, particularly active from the 1970s onward, sought to position glass alongside porcelain as a medium for avant-garde design. By collaborating with international designers and Murano artisans, Rosenthal created limited editions that bridged:
* Studio glass movement ideals (individuality, material exploration)
* Industrial precision (repeatable yet controlled production)
* Cross-cultural design exchange (Italy, Germany, Scandinavia)
This vase is a quintessential example of that ambition. The use of filigrana—a centuries-old Venetian technique—is recontextualized within a modernist framework, where pattern becomes structure, and ornament becomes optical architecture.
**What For:**
A collector’s piece for connoisseurs of Murano-influenced studio glass and Rosenthal’s experimental production. Ideal as a sculptural centerpiece; particularly effective under directional light, where the filigrana pattern reveals its full optical complexity.
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**GENERAL INFORMATION**
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International buyers: import duties or taxes, if applicable, are the buyer’s responsibility.
All items are photographed and described with care. Vintage pieces may show minimal traces of age; any significant flaws will be clearly mentioned.
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Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsOrange, TransparentMaterialGlassNumber of items1BrandRosenthalHeight12 cmWidth23 cmDepth23 cm