Those interested in Italian Mid Century Design in glass undoubtably think of Fontana Arte.
The company as a whole aside, I'd like to introduce you to one of their most important, but relatively unknown, artisans.
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SCULPTED HEAD
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In 1928, after years working for important glass firms in his native country, German-born
Erwin Walter Burger settled in Italy. Already a master engraver, he worked for several years for the Muranese firm of Cappellin & C- then moving to Milan to become chief engraver for the newly established firm Fontana Arte (the Gio Ponti-founded artistic wing of Luigi Fontana's plate glass company Luigi Fontana & C.).
Burger was responsible for the creating the designs thought up by Pietro Chiesa (whose own company had merged with Fontana Arte in 1933) & Giacomo Manzu, though also from the beginning designed his own works (though these were never marked as his own design). When Pietro Chiesa left Fontana Arte in 1945, Burger left to found his own company: Laboratorio Erwin Burger.
Burger worked with a small team of artisans producing a wide range of their own glass works, but also collaborated with other firms. In 1957 Burger he took on his 20-year old son Willi (a painter) as co-designer.
Prof. Burger died in 1982. Always the versatile artist, his son Willi is now world-renown classical harmonica musician.
The most importants works of Burger fall into two camps: sculptures & engraved panels.
AVAILABLE works by Burger at
Amarcord Fine Decorative Arts
SELECTED WORKS BY BURGER
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| REVERSE PAINTED PANELS |
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| REVERSE PAINTED CENTERPIECE |
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| WHEEL ENGRAVED & ETCHED GLASS DOORS |
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| ACID ETCHED GLASS PANELS |
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| DOOR HANDLES |
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| WHEEL CARVED WALL PANEL |
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