Golden Pulegoso Murano Glass Vase 1950s

Large golden pulegoso Murano glass vase, made in the 1950s

Ø cm 30 h cm 43

Pulegoso glass is a distinctive glassblowing technique, particularly associated with the Murano furnaces in Venice, which reached its peak during the Art Deco period and the years that followed. The term “pulegoso” derives from the Venetian dialect and refers to the bubbly, iridescent, and opaque appearance that characterizes this type of glass. The pulegoso effect is achieved by intentionally introducing small air bubbles into the glass during the melting or blowing process. This is done by adding volatile substances or granules that release gas to the glass mixture, or by introducing them during the working process, creating a myriad of micro air bubbles (the puleghe) that cannot fully escape. Trapped inside, the bubbles make the glass opaque or semi-opaque and give it a tactile, granular, velvety appearance. The surface is not perfectly smooth, but appears “undulating” and reflects light diffusely, creating an almost sparkling effect.