Mandara

Lino Tagliapietra is revered as a master glassblower and for his contributions to the field through his teaching. Mandara is a seminal example of the innovative work he has created since breaking from the factory system in Murano, Italy, to become a studio artist. His use of the 500-year-old incalmo technique, in which glass bubbles are joined to create bands of color, is visible in the blue and yellow areas. He pairs these designs with "coldworking," cutting patterns into the glass after cooling. The maturity of form and skill of this work are uniquely attributable to Tagliapietra and reflect his more than sixty years of experience.

Connections: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery, 2019

Lino Tagliapietra is widely revered as a master of glass blowing, and is recognized for his unparalleled contributions to the studio glass movement through his teaching, which fostered a new generation of artists. Mandara is a seminal example of the innovative work Tagliapietra created since he decided to become a self-styled studio artist, after breaking from the factory-system in Murano, Italy, where he worked for more than forty years. Illustrated in this piece are classic Murano colors, and the 500-year-old incalmo technique, in which different glass bubbles, such as the blue and the yellow, are joined together to create a more distinctive work. Also present are rich examples of Tagliapietra's trademark "coldworking" techniques, in which patterns are cut into the glass after it has cooled. The fine grooves are sawn into the vessel and known as inciso—literally "incised." The scalloped texture is called battuto, which translates as "beaten" and highlights its resemblance to hammered metal. The elegance of Mandara's final form and the level of skill evident in its creation are uniquely identifiable to Tagliapietra. There is a maturity in this work that reflects his more than sixty years of experience.

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2011