Large Free-Form Art Glass Vase by Gyula Budveszel, Hungary, 1990s

A striking hand-worked studio glass vase by Hungarian master glassblower Gyula Budveszel, dating from the 1990s.

The tall, gently tapering body is animated by sweeping ribbons of blue, turquoise, orange, olive green and deeper tones, creating an almost painterly composition within the glass. Tiny internal bubbles, overlapping layers of colour and subtle optical variations emphasize the individual character of the handmade object. Particularly expressive is the irregular, free-form rim, which provides a fluid conclusion to the vase’s slender, sculptural silhouette.

Gyula Budveszel was a Hungarian master glassblower whose work remains part of the country’s glassmaking heritage. His legacy was commemorated in 2024 with a dedicated glass exhibition at the Heimatmuseum in Óbánya, held as part of the 17th Glass Weekend, an event devoted to the traditions and continuing practice of glassmaking. hosszuheteny.hu

With its substantial scale and vivid internal colour, the vase has a strong sculptural presence even when displayed without flowers. Natural light particularly reveals the depth, transparency and changing optical character of the glass.