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Rosenthal Glasstudio Mario Colelli & Hertha Bengtson Murano Hand-blown Vase DUO
€999Bid from €899
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Berlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 23 sales
Product description
Rosenthal Glasstudio Filigrana Vase Duo by Mario Colelli & Hertha Bengtson – Limited Edition Art Glass, Germany, ca. 1980s
A refined and visually captivating duo of hand-blown glass vases from the Rosenthal Glasstudio, created through the collaboration between Murano glass specialist Mario Colelli and designer Hertha Bengtson. These works exemplify Rosenthal’s late 20th-century ambition to position glass as a collectible design medium, merging Venetian craftsmanship with Northern European formal clarity.
Each vase is executed in the traditional filigrana (Fadenglas) technique, in which fine threads of colored glass are embedded within clear crystal. Spiraling bands of green, red, and raspberry tones generate a dynamic optical rhythm across the surface, producing a subtle sense of movement as light interacts with the form. The pattern is not merely decorative, but structural—defining the visual architecture of each piece.
The two forms create a deliberate and harmonious contrast. The taller vase, with its slightly elongated neck and more vertical emphasis, introduces a sense of elegance and upward tension. The second vase, wider and more rounded, embodies a generous, bulbous silhouette reminiscent of organic Murano forms. Together, they articulate a dialogue between verticality and volume, restraint and expansion.
Designers: Mario Colelli & Hertha Bengtson
Manufacturer: Rosenthal Glasstudio, Germany
Period: ca. 1980s
Material: Hand-blown glass
Technique: Filigrana / Fadenglas
Finish: Glossy
Color: Green, red, raspberry, and clear
Dimensions:
Taller vase: Height 18 cm, Diameter 16 cm
Wider vase: Height 16 cm, Diameter 18 cm
Signatures & Edition Numbers:
Taller vase: Rosenthal Glasstudio H. Bengtson Colelli 021-18/200
Wider vase: Rosenthal Glasstudio H. Bengtson Colelli 019-3/200
Condition:
Excellent vintage condition. No chips, cracks, or restorations. Minor internal inclusions may be present, consistent with hand-blown filigrana glass.
About the Designers:
Mario Colelli, trained in Murano, contributed the technical mastery required for complex cane and filigrana work, enabling precise control over pattern and optical depth. Hertha Bengtson (1917–1993), a leading figure in Scandinavian modernism and long-time collaborator with Rosenthal, introduced a disciplined formal language rooted in proportion, clarity, and structural balance. Their collaboration represents a rare convergence of Italian glassmaking tradition and Scandinavian design philosophy within a German industrial-artistic framework.
Design Context:
Rosenthal Glasstudio functioned as an experimental platform, particularly from the 1970s onward, for limited-edition glass objects that bridged studio craft and industrial production. This duo reflects a broader European dialogue: Venetian techniques reinterpreted through modernist reduction, where ornament becomes structure and the vessel becomes a sculptural object. These works prefigure later developments in Murano-inspired contemporary glass, while maintaining a distinctly intellectual and restrained design language.
Collector’s Note:
Produced in a strictly limited edition of 200 pieces, each vase is engraved and numbered. Finding two complementary forms from the same series is increasingly rare, as most were originally sold individually. As a duo, they offer both visual balance and enhanced collectibility.
A sculptural and chromatically vibrant pairing that captures a pivotal moment in postwar European glass design.
In case you are interested in acquiring a single piece, please feel free to get in touch.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Please explore our profile for more vintage vases!
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.
Private sale under law: no returns, refunds, or warranties.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsGreen, Red, Multi Color, Orange, Transparent, PinkMaterialGlassNumber of items2BrandRosenthalHeight18 cmWidth16 cmDepth16 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Berlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 23 sales