Erwin Burger wood box with cut, painted crystal lid for Burger Kunstglas, Italy, late 1950s. Labeled base, chamfered corners, excellent condition.
Specifications
- Designer: Erwin Burger
- Manufacturer/Label: Burger Kunstglas (label to base)
- Country/Period: Italy, late 1950s
- Materials: Wood; cut and reverse-painted crystal; chamfered corners
- Condition: Excellent; light patina to wood; no defects
- Dimensions (H × W × D): 6 × 20 × 10.5 cm
- Price: €650
- Shipping: Contact us for a quote
Produced in the second half of the 1950s, this refined lidded box exemplifies Erwin Burger’s mastery of cut crystal and his post–Fontana Arte vocabulary.
The piece bears the original “Burger Kunstglas” label to the base, confirming production within Burger’s own orbit during the mid-century period. The design sits comfortably within the Italian postwar glass discourse to which Burger contributed as a cutter and engraver active in Milan.
The box combines a warm, well-proportioned wooden body with a crystal lid that has been precisely cut and hand-painted in an informal, abstract motif. The glass corners are subtly chamfered, softening the geometry and catching light along the bevels. The wooden carcass features neat inlays at the outer edges, adding a quiet note of craftsmanship that complements the graphic character of the painted crystal. Condition is excellent with no defects to report—light, expected patina to the wood only.
For collectors of mid-century European glass and wood objets, the piece offers an elegant convergence of material intelligence and artisanal finish. Its modest scale, crisp detailing, and labeled provenance make it a compelling addition to a focused collection of postwar decorative arts.
Read more about Erwin Burger here.
