Art Deco opalescent glass Butterfly by Sabino

Art Deco opalescent glass Butterfly by Sabino. The Butterfly shows the characteristic milky blue opalescence for which Sabino was renowned. A finely detailed figure with wings closed showing excellent fine detail and colour.  Signed Sabino France to the underside. A beautiful example. In excellent original condition

History
Marius Sabino was born in Sicily in 1878, and with his family moved to France while he was still a young boy. His father, a sculptor of wood, trained him to follow in his steps. He would go on to study at L’Ecole Nationale des Arts Decoratifs, and the Beaux Arts de Paris, where he became particularly interested in the challenges that the advent of electricity would have on glass manufacture. It was through electric lights that Sabino came to the production of glass. In fact, on his return from the first World War (where he had joined as a volunteer), he founded a factory which manufactured traditional lights fittings of wood or bronze and then quickly changed to glass.

In 1925, Sabino created an opalescent glass with a blue hue and iridescent impressions of either clouds in a blue sky, light striking a soap bubble or a reflection from the surface of water. He designed and made special lighting for the luxury liner Isle de France in 1927, and a lighted fountain column for the Grand Salon of Normandy in 1935.

Apart from the chandeliers, he created a multitude of vases and decorative objects, making great use of his expertise as a sculptor. In particular, busts and statues of women, and an exceptionally large range of animals with stylized features – sometimes in extraordinary large sizes. For example, in 1931 he created a large fish in a limited edition, two of which were bought by Josephine Baker and Maurice Chevalier.

Date – French c 1930

Condition Excellent original condition

Dimensions Approx length 12cm height 15 cm

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