Molenaar Vase, Leerdam Unica

Large blue vase, signed Frans Molenaar (1940-2015, Dutch designer) for Leerdam, a Dutch glassworks. This piece bears the signature engraved with a point “Leerdam Unica” as well as the letters “FM” preceded by a number: 97075. These last indications correspond to a marking system specific to the glassworks (the date of creation and production of the piece, the order numbers of each glass in the series).

It was from 1915 that the “N.V. Koninklijke Nederlandsche Glasfabriek Leerdam”, founded in 1765, resolutely moved towards a modernist and innovative production designed by three architect-designers: the Dutch Hendrik Petrus Berlage (already creating models for the French Cristalleries of Pantin and Baccarat), Karel Petrus Cornelis of Basel and the famous American Frank Lloyd Wright. More than 15 years before the birth of Scandinavian design, the Leerdam factory industrially produced tableware with refined and functional shapes. The designers also created artistic works that were blown on the fly and shaped by hand: the Unica collection.