Lattimo, no. 3510

Between 1932 and 1947, Carlo Scarpa worked closely with Paolo Venini and other master glassblowers to pioneer techniques, silhouettes, and colors that thoroughly modernized the ancient traditions of the glass-making Venetian island Murano. New methods of surface decoration were invented and each vessel is named for the techniques employed in their making, emphasizing the fact that experimentation was crucial to producing such a dazzling array of visual and material effects.

Lattimo (milky) is a technique dating from the sixteenth century and was originally used for items decorated with multicolored enamels or to supplement other glass-making methods. Scarpa revived the technique and used it solely to create milky-white glass pieces. The opacity derives from the presence of micro-crystals of calcium and sodium fluorides which are obtained by adding fluorine compounds to the glass mixture. When the glass cools, the microcrystals are dispersed, changing the glass’ refraction index and giving it its characteristic appearance. Although this bowl appears to be white porcelain at first glance, this glass’ slightly curved form and glossy surface mark it as a piece of lattimo.