Dino Martens is a legend in the history of Italian glass. He was born in 1894 and died in 1970. Between these dates, he reshaped the realm of art glass with his poetic, fearless, and modernist imagery. Inspired by nature and the world, Dino's work is synonymous with the Murano glass style of the 1950s.
Dino Martens, Murano's master glassmaker, was the first to introduce a radical break with the traditional tradition of glassmaking. In his work, he abandoned centuries of traditional techniques in favor of a style that embodied the Pop Art movement.
Dino Martens Lively Colors And Textures
Dino Martens' vivid colors and textures are a feast for the eye. His masterpieces are characterized by impulsiveness, a sense of explosion that can be seen in the way he drew shapes and colors - a style that's sought-after today.
Dino Martens Ravishingly Modern Murano
Fragments of glass rods, tesserae, or vases - in a riot of color and shape - or encased in metal metalized with vibrant hues make for dazzling objects.
Dino Martens created a new aesthetic with his wildly biomorphic forms and brightly colored metallic powders. He made the most extraordinary use of large-scale murrines, fragments of glass rods, metal beads, and colorful clays for his sculptures. In time he became a legend in the history of Italian glass.
Dino Martens' work: a window into 20th-century style
Large-scale colorful pieces with a large influence on the Murrine style.
The History Of Dino Martens Glass
Dino Martens was a master Murano glassmaker who was born in 1894 and died in 1970.
While he trained as a painter, he also worked with several glass factories. Some of them include S.A.L.I.R (Studio Ars et Labor Industrie Riunite) and Visionary glass designs from Salviati & Co. Martins was appointed artistic director for Aureliano Toso in 1947. He remained there until 1959 when he retired.
He joined the ranks of many of the great Murano glass designers of the 20th century. In addition to being a good painter, Martens also worked as a designer. He produced a remarkable series of vases with the Aureliano Toso glass factory from 1946 to 1960 that combined traditional Venetian techniques with bold colors and asymmetrical shapes.
What is Murano Glass and Where Does it come from?
Murano glass is a type of glass that comes from the island of Murano, Italy. It has been used for centuries and is the most famous Italian glass. It is characterized by its transparent, translucent, or opaque color and its crystalline structure.
The history of Murano glasswork dates back to the 12th century when it was first made in Murano, Italy. The master glassmakers would melt pieces of metal on a metal anvil and pour them into molds. They would use this technique to make all sorts of items such as cups, plates, bowls, and vases.
The Processes Involved In Making A Unique Piece of Murano Glasswork
Murano glasswork is a unique piece of workmanship that requires great skill and precision to create. The process involved in making this type of glasswork includes several steps, which are appraised by experts who determine the value of these pieces.
Murano glassmakers have been using this technique since the 15th century. The process involved in making a unique piece of workmanship includes the following:
Molding: This is where the glassblowing artist creates a mold out of clay and then uses the mold to blow the molten glass into.
Firing: After the molten glass has been blown into, it needs to be fired at high temperatures so that it becomes hard and transparent. The firing process takes place in an oven or kiln, which can take anywhere from one day to six weeks depending on how much time and effort has been put into each piece.
Etching: After the firing process, there are still some imperfections left on the surface of the glasswork such as bubbles or pits, it is then etched with acid to remove the imperfections and leave a beautiful finished product.
Hammering: Sometimes, the glassblowing artist will place a metallic object in the molten glass so that it becomes oxidized. This process of oxidation takes time and effort, but it creates a unique effect on the surface of the piece of workmanship.
Painting: Painted glass is made using a mixture of powdered glass and paint. This process creates a unique, smooth, and shiny finish with iridescent color.
Engraving: Engraving is the process of carving text or images into the glass with a diamond-tipped burin.
Sintering: In sintering, glass is heated to the melting point, then poured into molds or formed into desired shapes. The liquid glass is pressed and heated in a mold and forced through a die under pressure.