Italian glass artist Flavio Poli’s innovative use of the sommerso technique during the 1950s added a dimension of exquisite beauty and refined elegance to mid-century-era Murano glass design. Today Poli’s vintage table lamps, glass vases, ashtrays and other objects are highly collectible.
Born in Chioggia in 1900, Poli attended the prestigious Istituto d’Arte di Venezia where he trained as a ceramist before turning his attention toward glass art. His career in glass began in 1929 when he worked at the Industrie Vetrerie Artistiche Murano, designing and creating large-scale glass sculptures, urns and bowls.
During the 1930s, Poli was a glass artist for manufacturer Barovier, Seguso and Ferro (later known as Seguso Vetri d’Arte), where he worked alongside pioneering glass master Archimede Seguso. Poli was later appointed artistic director at the Venetian glassworks.
Inspired by Seguso, Poli began to experiment with his own glassblowing techniques. In the 1950s, he helped popularize the decades-old sommerso style, which sees overlapping layers of transparent handblown glass melded through a heating process and immersed in pots of molten colored glass. The style yields a sophisticated and mesmerizing effect — it's as if colored fluids have been trapped inside the layers of clear glass. Poli made use of variations on the technique in many of his pieces, including in designs for vases, bowls, sculptures and more.
Poli’s unparalleled designs and innovative work with the sommerso technique garnered numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. He won five Grand Prix awards at the Milan Triennale and was awarded the Compasso d’Oro prize in 1954. Poli’s designs were also presented at the World’s Fair in Brussels and the Venice Biennale in 1958.
Today, Poli’s work can be found in museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Murano Glass Museum in Venice, Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi in Rome and the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia.
Find vintage Flavio Poli decorative objects, serveware and lighting on 1stDibs.
$649
H 1.58 in W 5.32 in D 5.32 in
Mid-Century Sommerso Murano Glass Block Bowl, 1960s, By Flavio Poli.
By Flavio Poli
Located in Barcelona, Cataluna
Mid Century Italian Murano Sommerso Bowl by Flavio Poli For Seguso C.1960 In very good condition commensurate of age. In blue, orange colour. Dimensions: Height 1,5 in ( 4cm) Width ...
Murano Glass
$560Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.55 in W 3.35 in D 3.35 in
Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Cube Catchall, Italian Design, 1970s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
A striking example of mid-century Italian glass design, this sculptural Murano glass cube catchall captivates with its bold geometry and intricate optical play. Handcrafted in the 19...
Murano Glass
Flavio Poli, Sommerso Ashtray, 1960s
By Flavio Poli
Located in London, GB
Flavio Poli (1900-1984) was an Italian glass designer known for his masterful vases and lamps. His submerged glass pieces, which were made by layering transparent colors and textures, were later awarded the Italian Compasso d’Oro (Golden Compass...
Glass, Murano Glass
Flavio Poli Murano Glass Ashtray, Italy, 1960s
By Flavio Poli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Striking Murano glass ashtray designed by Flavio Poli, featuring a sculptural rectangular form with a deep oval well. Its layered blue and amber Sommerso glass creates rich color var...
Glass
$1,050
H 1.97 in W 6.89 in D 2.96 in
Rare Murano Uranium Glass Ashtray, Flavio Poli for Seguso, Sommerso Technique
By Flavio Poli
Located in CABA, AR
This is an extraordinary and rare Murano ashtray from the 1960s, a collector's piece distinguished by its bold design and unusual composition. The ashtray is attributed to the renown...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Uranium Glass
$590
H 3.55 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
Mid Century Modern Diamond shaped Murano glass bowl or ashtray by Flavio Poli
By Flavio Poli
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a stunning Mid Century Modern diamond shaped Murano glass faceted ashtray or bowl. It features the sommerso technique, which involves encasing layers o...
Murano Glass
Flavio Poli Murano Glass Ashtray, Sommerso Design, 1960s, Excellent
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Astonishing ashtray or catch-all By Flavio Poli for Seguso in Murano Sommerso Glass. The item is in excellent condition. Dimension: 5,11" diameter x 3,14" H inches cm 13 x cm 8 H
Murano Glass
Murano Glass Sommerso Block "Smoked" Cube Ashtray Element, Italy, 1970s
Located in Munich, DE
Modern and sleek, our cubic black ashtray is a stylish addition to any smoking area, blending functionality with contemporary design.
Glass
$649
H 3.55 in W 5.12 in D 5.12 in
Ashtray by Flavio Poli for Seguso, Sommerso Glass, Murano, Italy, 1960
By Flavio Poli
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Superb ashtray by flavio poli for seguso, designed and produced in italy in the 1960s. This murano glass ashtray was hand-cut from the so-called "sommerso" technique of the italia...
Murano Glass
Mid-Century Murano Sommerso Glass Ashtray, Italy, 1960s
By Flavio Poli
Located in Wien, AT
This striking mid-century Murano glass ashtray was crafted in the classic Sommerso technique, in which colored layers of glass are encased within clear crystal to create remarkable o...
Murano Glass
xl 1.7kg Murano Glass Sommerso "diamond" Bowl Ashtray by Flavio Poli Italy, 1970
By Flavio Poli
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass ash tray Origin: Murano, Italy Design: Flavio Poli Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass ash tray bowl element was designed by Flavio Poli and ...
Murano Glass
Murano Glass Sommerso Block "RED"Cube Ashtray Element Flavio Poli, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass ash tray Origin: Murano, Italy Design: Flavio Poli Decade: 1970s This original vintage g...
Murano Glass
Murano green Glass Sommerso Block Cube Ashtray Element Flavio Poli, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass ash tray Origin: Murano, Italy Design: Flavio Poli Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass ash tray bowl element was designed by Flavio Poli and ...
Murano Glass
XL 1.6kg Murano Glass Sommerso Bowl Ashtray by Luigi Mandruzzato, Italy, 1970s
By Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass ash tray in XL dimensions Origin: Murano, Italy Producer: LUIGI Mandruzzato Decade: 1970s This original vintage xxl glass ash tray bowl element was...
Murano Glass
Murano green Glass Sommerso Block Cube Ashtray Element Flavio Poli, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass ash tray Origin: Murano, Italy Design: Flavio Poli Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass ash tray bowl element was designed by Flavio Poli and ...
Murano Glass
colorful 29cm murano glass bowl Centerpiece by Flavio Poli Attrib., Italy, 1970s
By Fratelli Toso, Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, element in unique coloration Origin: Murano, Italy Design: Flavio Poli attrib. Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass shell bowl element w...
Murano Glass
