Viartec Spanish Selenium Red & Orange Glass Organic Sculpture

Description

Here is a magnificent large 1950/60's Murano style Spanish freeform 'Selenium' glass sculpture. In a stunning combination of ruby red glass encased in orange glass. Similar to uranium glass, but far less common, Selenium glass reacts when lit with UV light by glowing a bright orange or pink colour. This does not show up that well on camera, but is a lot brighter to the naked eye (although not as bring as the glow from uranium glass). A metalloid element, Selenium (Se) resembles sulphur, and is used in the production of glass to remove the green tinge and to make ruby-coloured glass.

Made by Viartec THF. Multiple examples from this range can be found online with labels that read "Viartec Hand Made in Spain".

Size

Measures approx 9.75 inches tall by 6.5 inches in diameter at widest point.

Condition

No chips or cracks other than one tiny nick to the base edge, and a dull patch to the edge of the base rim, where roughness to the edge of the base may have been ground out. This is actually very common with these sculptures, and therefore probably done at the factory. All shown in final pictures.