Lot #17: Rare Trio of Mid-Century Modern "Ice Block" Solifleur Art Glass Bud Vases

Rare Trio of Mid-Century Modern "Ice Block" Solifleur Art Glass Bud Vases Auction Category: 20th Century Design / Art Glass & Studio Glass Period: Circa 1960s – 1970s Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition (No chips, flea bites, or exterior damage) Materials: Heavy, thick-walled hand-blown clear soda-lime art glass Overview An exceptional, highly collectible trio of modernist "Solifleur" (single-stem) block bud vases. Intentionally crafted to mimic the raw, organic aesthetics of frozen glacial ice, these heavy-cast architectural pieces beautifully blend sharp geometric profiles with fluid, light-refracting internal elements. Perfect standalone sculptural items, sun-catchers, or heavy desktop paperweights for collectors of Scandinavian, German, or European brutalist art glass. Detailed Component Breakdown 1. The Centerpiece: Texturized "Ice Block" Slab Solifleur Design & Aesthetic: Features a heavily texturized "alligator-skin" pattern molded directly into the rear interior surface, brilliantly diffusing incoming light. Master Craftsmanship: Features a spectacular, intentional internal hot-work manipulation line sweeping diagonally across the solid core. This masterfully executed artistic fold functions as a light-trap, perfectly replicating an organic frost fissure frozen deep inside a natural ice sheet. Style Associations: Heavily reminiscent of the Arkipelago and Festivo techniques pioneered by Timo Sarpaneva for Iittala (Finland) and the brutalist slabs by Wiesenthalhütte (Germany). 2. The Profile Piece: Asymmetric Modernist Wedge Design & Aesthetic: A sleek, tapered shield-shaped silhouette boasting a fluid, naturally undulating central test-tube reservoir channel. Details: Features rounded hand-shaped shoulder contours and a variable glass thickness that produces dramatic optical magnification when viewed from different profiles. Fire-polished top rim entry point. Origin: Handcrafted by Valery Silver Art Glass (Turkey), late 20th Century. 3. The Companion Piece: Minimalist Geometric Crystal Column Design & Aesthetic: A highly polished, sharp-angled minimalist block block highlighting extreme clear glass clarity. Features a perfectly straight cylindrical core channel designed to isolate and elevate a single structural bloom or twig. Condition Report All three items are in excellent vintage condition. Structurally sound with solid bases. The internal shear line on the centerpiece is a verified, smooth internal hot-work manipulation anomaly created during the mouth-blown process—not a post-production structural fracture or crack. No clouding, water staining, or chips to the polished rims. Key Selling Points for Bidders Exceptional Light Refraction: Solid, massive glass distribution means these pieces act as natural prisms when placed on a windowsill or under direct spotlighting. Highly Desirable Style: "Ice glass" and brutalist organic design remain highly sought after by mid-century modern (MCM) interior decorators and art glass enthusiasts alike Nearest intersection Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue Pickup category timeslot {A}