French glassmaker, Marius-Ernest Sabino (1878-1961; born in Sicily but went to France at the age of four), designed this small fish sculpture in around 1925 in a lustrous, opalescent glass which resembled that used by popular Art Nouveau glassmaker, Renée Lalique. Sabino produced a range of fish sculptures, fish lamps and Art Deco figurines in this material, and became the best of many glass makers to copy Lalique's work. Rather than being a direct copyist however, Sabino developed his own style and made some unique pieces that included figurines of slim, androgynous women, which contrasted the classical figures often used by Lalique.

Renée Lalique established a reputation in the late-nineteenth century as an Art Nouveau jeweller who made unique pieces for a select clientele. However, in 1910, he changed his focus entirely and began to mass produce glassware for a much larger market. In 1918, he founded a new workshop and devised a secret formula for an opalescent glass, called 'opaline' or 'opalique'. Its milky-white surface reflected blue or yellow sheens, and differed notably from any previous types of glass. Opaline was used in the manufacture of ninety per cent of Lalique wares, which included jewellery, vases, figurines, car mascots and perfume bottles.

French glassmaker, Marius-Ernest Sabino (1878-1961), designed this moulded fish sculpture in around 1925 in a lustrous, opalescent glass which resembled that used by popular Art Nouveau glassmaker, Renée Lalique. It was made by his factory Sabino Glass which produced a range of fish sculptures, fish lamps and Art Deco figurines in this material, and became the best of many glass makers to copy Lalique's work.

Ian Neil Whalland (1963-1996) acquired this fish sculpture for his collection of twentieth-century decorative art objects. He lived in Sydney, and developed his collection during the 1980s and 1990s.

Sculpture, fish, opaline glass, designed by Marius Ernest Sabino, made by Sabino Glass, Paris, France, c. 1925

A three dimensional fish sculpture made in moulded opaline glass with a blue and purple opalescent lustre throughout the body of the fish. The diamond-shaped fish features a pointed dorsal fin, a pointed tail fin, side fins and rounded eyes on both sides. The sculpture leans slightly to the right and rests on a two tiered base decorated with a wave-like pattern. Marked on side.

Designed: Sabino, Marius Ernest;

Made: Sabino Glass; Paris, France; 1920 - 1930

Included in the moulding of the sculpture is the raised text 'SABINO FRANCE'.

2005/66/15

109 mm

40 mm