Yellow veil glass BOWL

Made in Hungary, ca. 1970s. This piece showcases the patented triple-layered fátyolüveg ("veil glass") technique developed in 1961. Hand-blown hard glass with yellow grézli, in excellent vintage condition. Each veil glass object is unique - this bowl is one of a kind.

This yellow bowl is an exquisite example of fátyolüveg, or "veil glass" - a uniquely Hungarian invention patented in 1961 by Kossuth Prize-winning engineer Zoltán Veress and chemist Zoltán Suha. Created through a highly complex, handcrafted process, veil glass consists of three distinct layers: a delicate, colored inner layer that cracks during cooling to create a sparkling, veil-like effect, encapsulated by two strong outer layers that preserve the structure without shattering. The result is an object that seems to capture light itself. Each piece is entirely unique due to the use of colored glass shards (called grézli) and the manual production process. This particular bowl likely dates from the 1970s, when the technique was further refined under the direction of designer Katalin Somkúti, who sought to highlight the material’s natural brilliance through simple, modernist forms.
Originally produced in small batches at the Karcag-Berekfürdő Glassworks - a now-defunct rural manufactory known for experimental technical glass - the veil glass line never reached mass production due to high costs and limited marketing. Still, its artistic and technical merit earned international acclaim, and by the 1990s, veil glass pieces were fetching higher prices than even cut lead crystal on the global market.

Today, veil glass is considered a rare collectible and a remarkable example of Hungary’s postwar applied arts. This bowl is not merely decorative - it’s a luminous relic of a brilliant, underappreciated chapter in design history.

Dimensions: H8 x W11cm
Weight: 423g and 429g and 498g and 529g and 541g and 550g
Material: Glass
Care instructions: Handwash only. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use abrasives or cleaners as they may damage the finish.