🦢 The Sunset Swan Dish 🦢

🦢 This charming little fellow is a classic piece of mid-century art glass—a vibrant, hand-blown swan that looks as though it just paddled out of a sunset and onto your table.
 
🦢 The silhouette stands with a neck arched in a permanent state of elegant curiosity and a pinched tail that doubles as a delicate spout, it was likely designed as a decorative bowl, trinket dish, or a very fancy ashtray for a glamorous 1960s parlor.
 
🦢 The colour has that rich cadmium red/amberina glow that transitions from a deep ruby to a warm orange-yellow near the edges, giving it the appearance of glowing from within.
 
🦢 A Brief History of the Crystal Flock 🦢
 
The lineage of this swan can be traced back to two magical kingdoms of glassmaking:
 
🦢 The Murano Influence (The Italian Connection) 🦢
 
In the 1950s and 60s, the island of Murano, Venice, was the epicenter of the glass universe. Masters like Seguso and Barbini began crafting these stylized animals. They wanted to move away from "stiff" statues and toward flowing, organic shapes. These swans became global sensations—souvenirs for the chic traveler who wanted to bring a piece of Italian sunlight home.
 
🦢 The American Migration (Kanawha & Viking) 🦢
 
Because everyone fell in love with the Italian swans, American glass houses in West Virginia (like Kanawha, Viking, and Blenko) began creating their own versions. This swan has the sturdy, playful "folk-art" feel often associated with these mid-century American makers, who specialized in that brilliant red-to-orange gradient.
 
🦢 The Secret Life of Swans 🦢
 
In the mid-20th century, a glass swan was more than just a dish; it was a badge of "Modern Style." It sat on coffee tables atop lace doilies, holding lemon drops, precious trinkets, or nothing at all—content to simply catch the afternoon light and turn it into a kaleidoscope.
 
🦢 Fun Fact 🦢
 
 Because these were hand-blown (using a blowpipe and hand tools), no two swans are ever truly identical twins. The curve of the neck and the "tuck" of the head are unique to the breath and steady hand of the artist who made it.
 
This piece is hand blown glass. There are bubbles and tool marks in the glass from the creation process. This is a sign of a one of kind piece, not damage. 
 
All items are in vintage and antique preloved condition. Some minor surface scratches may be present.  I do my best to note and photograph any wear.  Please contact me with any further questions :)