Richard Marquis forming American Acid Capsule at Venini Fabbrica, Murano, Italy circa 1969-70. Courtesy of the artist.
Richard Marquis’s handling of the traditional murrine technique—which allows for polychrome patterning in blown glass—represents a striking Americanization of a traditional old-world craft. Marquis had gone to Murano, the famed glass-making island in Venice, Italy, on a Fulbright scholarship in 1969, just as Objects: USA was beginning its tour. By then, he had already trained with some of California’s most significant and progressive craft artists: Peter Voulkos and Ron Nagle in ceramics, and Marvin Lipofsky in glass.
Marquis was therefore well prepared to take traditional ideas and remake them, and this is exactly what he did with murrine, using it to make a hilarious series of pharmaceutical capsule forms, many of them decorated with Stars and Stripes—an acid commentary (in every sense of the phrase) on American culture.
American Acid Capsule with Knit Case in solid-worked glass, murrine, canne, and incalmo techniques. Designed by Richard Marquis and made at the Venini Fabbrica, Murano, Italy, 1969–1970.
1.5" L x 4.5" W x 1.5" H
3.8cm L x 11.4cm W x 3.8cm H
SG2306
Egg with Knit Case in solid-worked glass, murrine, a canne, and incalmo techniques. Designed by Richard Marquis and made at the Venini Fabbrica, Murano, Italy, 1969–1970.
2.5" L x 4" W x 2.5" H
6.4cm H x 10.2cm W x 6.4cm H
SG2305
Small Trapezoidal Bottle with Enamels in blown glass and paint. Designed and made by Richard Marquis, USA, circa 1967.
1.13" L x 3.25" W x 4.25" H
2.9cm L x 8.3cm W x 10.8cm H
SG2307
Glass Bottle in blown glass and murrine technique. Designed by Richard Marquis and made at the Venini Fabbrica, Murano, Italy, 1969.
1" L x 1.75" W x 3.75" H
2.5cm L x 4.4cm W x 9.5cm H
SG2308