Rare 'Verre Églomisé' Portasigari by Erwin Burger for Fontana Arte, circa 1940

This exceptional collector’s piece is a sublime example of Italian Mid-Century mastery, produced by the prestigious Fontana Arte in Milan during the early 1940s. Created under the artistic direction of Pietro Chiesa by legendary master glass cutter Erwin Burger, this exclusive portasigari (cigar box) reflects an era when glass was treated like a precious gem. The undeniable centerpiece is its thick, heavy lid of hand-cut crystal glass. The reverse side is meticulously decorated using the refined verre églomisé technique (reverse-glass painting), yielding a jewel-like, abstract mosaic pattern in rich tones of ruby red, deep blue, and gold. Housed in a beautifully clean-lined walnut wood base, it offers a stunning tactile and visual contrast between modernist minimalism and artistic opulence. A rare, museum-quality design icon that serves as a striking sculptural statement for any desk or credenza.

Length: 19 

Width: 11 

Height: 6