Breakdown of Сам мастер хотел выдуть вазу, великолепие которой удивляет.
хотеть
to want
удивлять
to surprise
который
which / who / that (relative pronoun)
мастер
the stylist / master / craftsperson
сам
oneself (сам, сама, само, сами)
ваза
vase
выдуть
to blow (out)
великолепие
magnificence
Questions & Answers about Сам мастер хотел выдуть вазу, великолепие которой удивляет.
Why is которой placed after великолепие, and why is it in this specific case?
Которой is in the genitive case because it means 'of which', referring back to the feminine noun вазу. In Russian relative clauses, when expressing 'of which' for an inanimate object, the relative pronoun usually follows the noun it possesses. That is why we say великолепие которой instead of которой великолепие.
Why do we use Сам here instead of Самый?
Is выдуть a special verb for glassblowing, or just a general word for blowing?
While дуть is the standard imperfective verb for 'to blow', выдуть (perfective) literally means 'to blow out'. In Russian, this is indeed the specific and standard verb used for glassblowing, as you are blowing the glass out into a shape.
Why is удивляет in the present tense while the main clause is in the past tense (хотел)?
The past tense хотел describes the master's desire at a specific point in time. However, the magnificence of the vase is a timeless, permanent quality. The present tense удивляет (imperfective) captures this ongoing state: its magnificence surprises people generally, even now.
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