On January 29th 1996 86 year old ARCHIMEDE SEGUSO stood on his balcony of his home and watched with a mixture of dismay and fascination as the ashes of the famous Opera house swirled around him.

At 3am the fire was declared under control. At 5am Archimede got out of his bed as usual and determinedly made his way to the glassworks to start a project that would be his tribute to the glory that was the Fenice and it’s tragic end. Archimede made over 100 pieces of glass in a style entirely different to anything he had ever made before – with a background as dark as the Venice night diamond shapes swirl, leap and spiral around the glass – sparks, flames and embers dance their final tribute to the glorious old building – and the operatic delights he had enjoyed there. Just as a candle burns brightest before it gutters out Archimede Seguso signed these final pieces of his art work and left an inheritance that rarely changes hands today. Each piece is individual.

ARCHIMEDE SEGUSO died in 1999. I personally visited him in 1998. Allowing me to purchase this piece. 

Made in murano Italy.