SALVIATI & CO. Venice, late nineteenth century. Art Nouveau chalice. Blown glass and fine gold

SALVIATI & CO. Venice, late 19th century.
Art Nouveau chalice.
Blown glass and fine gold inclusions.
Similar pieces published with photos in the book "Venetian Glass, Confections in glass 1855-1914", Sheldon Barr, published 1988 by Harry N. Abrams and "L'Europe de L'Art Verrier" by Giuseppe Cappa, Mardaga Publishers, pages 408 to 414.
Measurements: 29.5 x 16 x 10 cm.
Chalice entirely made of blown glass in various shades and decorated with fine gold inclusions. It is a highly decorative piece, practically conceived as a sculpture. The vessel is in the shape of a conch and ends at the front with the stylised neck and head of a swan. All of this rests on a smooth, lobed stem of great finesse and delicacy, which elevates the piece in height and gives it notable stylisation. The chalice stands on a circular foot.
From its technical characteristics, we can attribute this work to a master glassmaker such as Barovier or Fratelli Toso.
Antonio Salviati (Vicenza, 1816-1890) was an Italian lawyer and businessman, founder of a high-class Venetian glass factory, responsible for the revival of the Venetian glass industry in the 19th century.
A lawyer by profession, in 1866 they formed a partnership with Austen Henry Layard, the archaeologist who discovered Nineveh, with whom they formed the company Società Salviati e Compagni, based in Venice.
The Salviati company won several important commissions, such as the mosaics for the back of the high altar in Westminster Abbey (1867), the ceiling of the Albert Memorial Chapel in Windsor Castle and the Palatine Chapel in Aachen (1870-1875). In 1876 he separated from his English partners and founded a new company which, in addition to mosaics, produced ornamental and table glass in a high quality Renaissance style. In the 1870s he also produced pieces in imitation of ancient Roman glass. His company took part in all the universal exhibitions at the end of the 19th century.