Murano - Vase - Sommerso - Crystal glass

Vintage Murano Sommerso – faceted red/blue Art Glass block vase – Italy

Beautiful and exceptionally decorative vintage Murano Sommerso block vase, produced on the famous glassmaking island of Murano near Venice, Italy.

The vase is built from multiple layers of colored and clear glass according to the famous Venetian Sommerso technique. Centrally there is a strong deep red glass core, surrounded by a contrasting blue/aqua glass layer. The whole is then encased in a thick mantle of clear crystal glass.

Through this layered construction, a striking optical effect arises where the colors, depending on light incidence and viewing angle, appear to float in the transparent glass.

Faceted block form

Characteristic is the heavy, architectural rectangular block shape with sharply cut and polished facets.

The contrast between the geometric exterior and the elongated, organic red inner core is particularly beautiful. From different angles, the visible form of the colored layers changes, so the vase forms an impressive sculptural glass object even without flowers.

Venetian Sommerso technique

Sommerso, Italian for “submerged,” is a glassmaking technique in which different colors of glass are built up separately and then enclosed in a outer layer of clear glass.

This technique became an important part of modern Murano glass art in the twentieth century and produced some of the most recognizable Italian art glass objects from the Mid-Century period.

Origin and attribution

Several renowned Murano glass factories produced similar heavy, facet-cut Sommerso vases.

Such objects are regularly attributed in the trade to Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d’Arte. However, without an original factory sticker, signature, or convincing historical catalog reference, such an attribution is not warranted.

This vase is therefore deliberately and correctly offered as:

Murano Sommerso – Italy – maker/designer unknown.

The quality of the glass, the complex layered colorwork, and the carefully cut and polished form make the object in itself a beautiful example of Venetian glass art.

Specifications

Origin: Murano, Venice – Italy
Period: vintage, Mid-Century
Style: Mid-Century Modern / Italian Modern
Technique: Sommerso
Material: art glass / crystal glass
Colors: deep red, blue/aqua and clear glass
Form: rectangular faceted block vase
Manufacturer: unknown / unsigned

Dimensions: H 14 cm x W 4.7 cm x D 3.6 cm

Weight: 460.5 g

Condition

The vase is in a fine vintage condition. Small minimal signs of use and aging may be present and are consistent with the age of the object. See the photos for a good impression of the condition; they form part of the description.

A powerful and timeless Murano Sommerso Art Glass vase that, thanks to the combination of deep red, blue, and clear glass, comes beautifully into its own in both modern and Scandinavian, Mid-Century, or eclectic interiors.

Even without flowers, this is a particularly decorative and sculptural collector’s object. It will be securely packed and insured for safe shipment with tracked delivery.