Empoli Optic Glass Apothecary Jar in Cranberry, c. 1960

This tall apothecary jar was hand-blown in the Empoli region of Tuscany in the 1960s, in a cranberry glass bowl with fine vertical optic ribbing, set on a clear stem and finished with a crystal ball finial.

Empoli's glassmaking tradition runs back to the 1500s, originally built on Verde, a utilitarian green glass used across the region. In the postwar decades, Empoli's workshops shifted towards the saturated colours and sculptural forms that Western department stores and design magazines wanted through the 1950s and 60s, producing decorative glass in cranberry, green, amber and amethyst that found its way into homes across the US, UK and Australia. This piece, standing 51cm tall, is a genuinely large example of that output, the scale giving it real presence as a sideboard or dining table piece. Under changing light, the cranberry deepens towards magenta and lightens again through the day, a natural effect of the glass itself rather than anything applied.

The piece is in excellent vintage condition. We have inspected it closely and found no chips, cracks, clouding or notable wear, with the glass retaining its original clarity.

Dimensions: 51cm high.

A considered piece for a sideboard, dining table or lit display niche. Available to view in our Torquay studio.