Lot 200: Thomas Stearns

1960-1962 designed for Venini hand-blown glass with antiqued mirror plating to the inside and a white opaline interior globe, with patinated silver-plated brass fixtures

measurements note 8 1/2 in. (21.7 cm) high 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm) diameter

Thomas Stearns passed away in 2006, leaving behind a distinguished career and a legacy of bold innovations. As the first American to work with Venini, his creativity within the glass medium challenged the designs and methods of the early 1960s. Stearns has left an indelible mark on the history of Italian glass. This lamp is a unique prototype designed for Venini. Due to the technical complexity, this lamp was never put into full-scale production.