Simon Gate 1932 design, Orrefors Tusen fonster (Thousand Windows) bowl

This is clever design which uses the optical qualities of glass to make something relatively simple into something special. When you look through one of the concave lenses you get a multiplication effect so that it looks like there are many more lenses than there really are. A comparable Italian version, also simple but with an outstanding result is 1938 Seguso Vetri d'Arte Lenti-style cylindrical vase

Thousand Window vases were designed by the famous Simon Gate, the inventor of Graal glass, in 1932, and made by Orrefors in the '30s, the '70s, and the '90s. According to another internet source you can still buy new ones for US $470. You can't believe everything you read on the 'net but that sounds plausible. However, a search of the Orrefors US website doesn't find it or any other Gate designs so if they're still for sale they must be old stock. One correspondent on "The Glass Message Board" certainly likes the Thousand Windows describing it as "the best 1930s design from a top designer, top factory and top quality."

Height: 12cm
Width: 18cm
Weight: 2.4kg (!)

Engraved "II" (second) We guess that it must be a second but we can't find anything that justifies that description.

Condition: light wear to the base, a 1mm dark spot from manufacture inside the glass (perhaps that was what made it a second?), a few 0.5mm unintended bubbles, a 2mm fleck and a 1mm fleabite to the cut decor

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Our Reference: 2215

This item has sold for US $150.00

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