Published on the occasion of the exhibition curated by Jean-Luc Olivié and Cristina Beltrami, is organized by LE STANZE DEL VETRO in collaboration with the Musée des arts décoratifs in Paris, the volume recounts the fundamental role of Marinot in the history of modern and contemporary glass through more than 200 glass works from prestigious museums, as well as over 100 preparatory drawings, sketches, designs for objects and set-ups.

A great glass artist, who revolutionized glassmaking techniques and taste, Maurice Marinot (1882-1960) was a tireless experimenter, whose glass inventions were emulated for decades.

After a period of training in Paris, Marinot often featured in the fauve movement at the beginning of his career. In 1911, almost by chance he discovered the medium of glass, which he used as a unique means of artistic expression. Already the very first attempts proved to be considerably novel, far from previous models, with decorative enameled motifs making use of any potential flaws in the glass material. In 1912 he participated in the Salon d’Automne in Paris and the following year he started to be exclusively diffused by the prestigious Hébrard Gallery (1913).

Over the years, his relationship with the medium of glass became more and more physical and Marinot finally came fully to grips with glassmaking as of 1922-1923, when he started blowing unique pieces with refined nuances. He moved from simple shapes, often with smooth surfaces and suspended bubbles in the body of the pieces, to bottles and vases with deep incisions or strong acid corrosion. Even when working with transparent glass, enhancing the fluidity of hot glass, a strong tactile sensuality remains.

The volume presents the entire production of the glass artist, from the early enamel works to the hand-blown pieces and includes the essays by Pasquale Gagliardi, Olivier Gabet, Jean-Luc Olivié, Cristina Beltrami, Véronique Ayroles, Rossella Froissart, Jared Goss, Maurice Marinot.