Centerpiece with Silver Mounts and Coat of Arms

This centerpiece was part of a grand table service of 465 pieces commissioned for Ca’ Rezzonico palace in Venice, Italy, by a member of the Italian Parliament, Count Lionel Hirschel de Minerbi. With its unique design characterized by simple forms and sinuous lines, this object by British glass designer Harry Powell is at the forefront of Art Nouveau (“New Art”) design. At the turn of the 20th century, artists felt the desire to create objects that would elevate people’s existence with beauty and harmony. This centerpiece is a splendid example of Art Nouveau’s sinuous flowing line considered a metaphor for artistic freedom.