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Mario Sandon was an Italian glass artist known for his exquisite and playful glass clown figurines. Born in 1924 in Venice, Italy, Sandon began working with glass at the age of 14, following in the footsteps of his father who was also a glassworker.
Sandon’s early career was spent working for various glass factories in the famous Venetian island of Murano, where he honed his skills and developed his unique style. In the 1950s, he began designing and creating his own glass artworks, including his iconic clown figurines.
Sandon’s clown figurines are known for their whimsical and playful designs, often featuring exaggerated facial expressions and colorful outfits. He was inspired by the Commedia dell’arte, a form of Italian theater that features masked characters, including clowns.
Sandon’s clowns were typically made using the “lume” or “lampworking” technique, which involves using a flame to melt and shape glass rods into the desired form. Sandon was a master of this technique, and his clowns were highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts around the world.
In addition to his clown figurines, Sandon also created other glass objects, such as vases and bowls, but it is his clowns that have become his most recognizable and beloved works. Each of his clowns was unique, and Sandon would often spend weeks or even months perfecting the details and colors of each piece.
Sandon’s work was exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, including the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. He also received numerous awards for his contributions to the art of glassworking.
Despite his success, Sandon remained humble and dedicated to his craft throughout his life. He continued to work in his studio until his death in 2011, leaving behind a legacy of exquisite glass art that continues to inspire and delight people to this day.
Today, Sandon’s glass clowns are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, and they remain an important part of the rich tradition of glassworking in Murano, Italy. Sandon’s legacy continues to be celebrated by those who appreciate the beauty and artistry of his work.
The 1950s was also the decade when Knobler hired two Italian glassblower brothers, Alessandro and Roberto Moretti, the latter of whom had apprenticed at Murano glass factories and had executed sculptures designed by Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso before he came to Pilgrim. The Moretti brothers brought to Pilgrim a wide repertoire of techniques, foremost among them the ability to create solid-glass figurines in the shapes of animals. The Moretti brothers’ earliest animals for Pilgrim included horses, cats, and elephants; owls, rabbits, and snails are examples of later pieces. In 1963, the brothers’ brother-in-law, Mario Sandon, joined the firm; all three Italians worked at Pilgrim until the mid-1980s.
Alfred Knobler founded the Pilgrim Glass Company after he acquired the Tri-State Glass Manufacturing Company of Huntington in 1949. Knobler held a degree in ceramic engineering and the movement into glass was lucrative. Pilgrim Glass moved to Airport Road in Ceredo in 1956 to be close to Tri-State Airport. After a steady decline in sales and an inability to find a buyer, Knobler closed Pilgrim Glass on April 1, 2002.
Mario Sandon
June 30, 1924 – November 29, 2011
Wife Onelia Moretti Sandon 1926-2015 (April 26, 1926 – August 30, 2015)
IN MEMORY OF ALESSANDRO MORETTI (Sandy)
APRIL 15, 1922 – DECEMBER 3, 1998