Aldo Boscolo
glassthink
Lampworker
Venice, Italy
Painted chemistry under the flame
- Aldo creates sculptural glass goblets inspired by animals and nature
- His lampworking technique involves harnessing gravity and centrifugal force
- He achieves colour through the inclusion of metals in molten Murano glass
Aldo Boscolo is entirely self-taught in his practice as a lampworker. He makes highly ornamental goblets exclusively freehand, without the use of moulds, by combining Murano glass with chemical elements to create colour in the flame, at times adding 24-carat gold glass and 925 silver. "I paint freehand with molten glass in the flame," explains Aldo. He studies the chemical reactions of metals to obtain new colours and shapes within each new piece. Since 2022, he has been teaching his craft, training 15 apprentices in just a few years. Aldo's work has been shown at Venice Glass Week, the Galleria d'Arte Schiavone on Murano, and the Biennale del Vetro in Denizli, Türkiye.
INTERVIEW
Usually people do not realise that the colours come from metals fused inside the glass, not from murrine or decoration added later. Each piece comes out finished, with no second firing, because temperatures and thicknesses avoid thermal stress.
Through my practice, I want to convey a sense of resilience. A single millimetre of asymmetry, during blowing, deforms the piece. When I am in front of the flame, everything around me disappears and my attention is fully focused on following rhythmic movements. It is almost a meditation that brings peace.
I closely study each inspiration work first, looking for the metals present in every colour to choose the shades and the chemical reactions to recreate. I draw the design to judge proportions and difficulties. When working with the material, I mainly use lampworking and the modelling of solid glass.
Many types of glass exist, and I like to work with Murano glass COE 104. This coefficient of glass is famous and is harder to work with than others. I also love creating synergies with 24-carat gold glass and 925 sterling silver, under the flame, always.
Aldo Boscolo
glassthink
Lampworker
Venice, Italy
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+39 3205313127
LANGUAGES
Italian, French, English, Spanish
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