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Mid-Century Murano Leopard Tortoise Shell Pattern Glass Handkerchief Vase, 1960
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Murano Art glass Handkerchief vase 1960s.
Mid-Century beautiful, turtle shell hand blown Murano
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Organic Modern Vases
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Mid-Century Modern Murano pendant light by Murano Due
By Murano Due
Located in Palermo, PA
Discover the exquisite Murano glass pendant light by Murano Due. The craftsmanship behind this
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Murano Shell Chandelier
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Murano shell chandelier.
Category
Vintage 1960s Slovak Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Art Glass
Shell Murano Glass Chandelier, 1980
By Vintage Murano Gallery
Located in Palermo, PA
adorned with magnificent Murano glass shell leaves, creating an exquisite interplay of light and artistry
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid Century Murano Art Glass Shell Bowl
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A LOVELY Mid Century Murano Art Glass Shell Bowl, in the Manner of Tosso or Martens
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Centerpieces
Materials
Art Glass
Vintage Italian Murano Art Glass Shell
By Vintage Murano Gallery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful vintage Murano art glass cream & brass. Very well done, still has the original label on
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Garniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Italian Blown Murano Glass Blue Goldenrod Clam Shell Shaped Catchall Bowl
By Murano 5
Located in Miami, FL
Italian blown Murano glass two-color blue and goldenrod Clam Shell shaped catchall, bowl or vide
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Materials
Murano Glass
H 2.75 in W 8.5 in D 6.5 in
Amber Graniglia Shell Sconces by Murano Due, 5 Available
By Murano Due
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian wall light with a clear shell shaped Murano glass shade hand blown with amber Graniglia to
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Gold Plate
Hand Sculpted Shell Shape MURANO Glass Bowl
By Vintage Murano Gallery
Located in Hawthorne, CA
A large-scaled Italian Mid-century clear, hand-crafted glass bowl from the MURANO COLLECTION
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Decorative Bowls
Materials
Murano Glass
Large Finest Murano Glass Clam Shell Swirl Gold Dust Flecks Bowl, Catchall Italy
By Murano 5
Located in Miami, FL
Italian large finest Murano glass clam shell swirl gold dust flecks bowl, catchall.
No markings
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Materials
Murano Glass
H 3.5 in W 13 in D 9 in
Pair of Murano glass shell shaped wall lights, 1980
By Vintage Murano Gallery
Located in Palermo, PA
This pair of Murano glass wall lights is truly amazing. Crafted with precision, the Murano glasses
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Mid-century Murano Glass Pink Shell Ashtray or Bowl
By Barbini
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-century Murano glass ashtray. Shell pink glass interior with all over controlled bubbles
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Decorative Bowls
Materials
Blown Glass
Chambered Nautilus Shell Art Glass Paperweight
By Murano 5
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Chambered Nautilus Shell Art Glass Paperweight.
Murano style art glass in brown and transparent
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights
Materials
Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Art Glass
Murano Shell Chandelier
Located in Norwalk, CT
Slightly opalescent Murano glass scallop shell forms hung together in a small scale fixture with
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Murano Shell Vase
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare Murano shell vase, circa 1960.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Murano Glass
Large Mid-Century Modern Murano Style Brown and Tan Tortoise Shell Glass Vase
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
looking too busy)
Alternatively, for the maximalist, or the Mid-Century Modern lover, this vessel is
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Glass, Art Glass
Mid-Century Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Shell Form Bowl in Lemon Yellow
Located in New York, NY
This lovely hued and elegantly achieved Mid-Century Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Shell Form
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Materials
Murano Glass
Barovier Murano Shell Bowl Of Blue Glass Gold Flecks and White Interior
By Vintage Murano Gallery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
condition with no chips or abrasions which is substantial for a Mid Century piece of this age. Also is a
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Materials
Gold
Mid-Century Modern Handblown Murano Glass Bowl in Oyster Shell and Champagne
Located in New York, NY
This stunning handblown Murano glass bowl features scalloped edges and a wealth of specter-like
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Materials
Gold
H 2.5 in W 7.25 in D 7 in
Murano Shell Sculpture
Located in Pasadena, CA
Beautiful mid-century Murano Shell sculpture or dish. This shell is beautifully designed with
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Materials
Blown Glass
1970s Mid-Century Modern Green and Yellow Murano Glass Sea Shell Bowl by Seguso
By Seguso
Located in Aci Castello, IT
glassware since the 14th century.
The bowl has a shell-shaped form and is made of high-quality Murano glass
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Materials
Murano Glass
Vintage Decorative Murano Glass Shell
Located in Milano, IT
Gorgeous vintage Murano glass shell made in the 1960s.
The decorative element is entirely made of
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Heavy xxl Murano Glass "LUCID" Bowl Shell Element Shell Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original vintage glass shell bowl element was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. It is made
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 4.14 in W 16.54 in D 8.27 in
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Aqua Blue & Gold Hand blown Murano Glass Bowl
By Murano Glass Sommerso, Alfredo Barbini
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Aqua Blue & Gold Hand blown Murano Glass Bowl.
This elegant Mid
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Mid-Century Modern Three Murano Gold Art Glass Shell Wall Sconce Light Fixtures
By Barovier Seguso & Ferro
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful large Mid-Century Modern murano gold art glass set of three wall sconces light fixture
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Materials
Bronze
H 8 in W 16 in D 8 in
Gold Murano glass leaf sconces
By Mazzega
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of large Mid-Century Modern gold Murano glass sconces, Mazzega style, Italy 1980s.
Two pairs
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
MURANO Art Glass Sculpted SHELL
Located in Hawthorne, CA
A large-scale Italian mauve and deep black coloured art glass in the form of a giant clam shell
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Art Glass
1, 47kg Floral Glass "Lucid" Bowl Shell Centerpiece Shell Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original vintage glass shell bowl element was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. It is made
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 7.49 in W 14.57 in D 4.73 in
unique Murano Glass "Green" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
murano glass bowl, ashtray element.
Origin:
Murano, Italy.
Decade:
1970s.
This
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.17 in W 5.79 in D 5.71 in
unique Murano Glass "Yellow" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
This
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.56 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
Large Murano Glass "Yellow" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
This
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.56 in W 5.32 in D 5.32 in
Eleven Modern Shell Murano Glass Wall Lamps
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Thirteen shell-shaped Murano glass wall lamps. They have been rewired and each lamp has two sockets
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Iron
Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
This
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.17 in W 5.32 in D 4.93 in
Heavy Multicolor Murano Glass "Centerpiece" Bowl Shell Element Murano Italy 1970
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original vintage glass shell bowl element was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. It is made
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 5.71 in W 12.21 in D 8.47 in
Murano Glass Bullicante "Green" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant green Murano
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.68 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
Murano Glass Bullicante "Green" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant green Murano
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.76 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Murano Glass Bullicante "Green" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Alessandro Mandruzzato, Flavio Poli
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant green Murano
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.56 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Murano Glass Bullicante "Green" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant green Murano
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 1.97 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
Murano Glass Bullicante "Green" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant green Murano
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 5.12 in Dm 1.97 in
Murano Glass "RED-YELLOW" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
This
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.76 in W 4.14 in D 4.22 in
Organic Murano Glass "Purple" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
This
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.76 in Dm 4.06 in
Murano Glass "Red-Yellow" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
This
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 1.97 in W 4.93 in D 4.14 in
Murano Glass "Honey Bubble" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 3.55 in W 5.71 in D 5.71 in
Murano Glass Bullicante Bubble "Green" Vase Element Shell Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass vase element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
This original glass
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 6.3 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Large Murano Glass "LUCID" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.37 in W 7.09 in D 7.09 in
Organic Murano Glass "Purple" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 1.97 in W 4.69 in D 4.61 in
Murano Glass "Red Bubble" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.56 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Large Murano Glass "Floral" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.76 in Dm 5.71 in
Murano Glass "Strawberry" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Seguso Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Producer
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.96 in W 6.3 in D 6.7 in
Large Murano Glass "Sommerso" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
Located in Munich, DE
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element.
Category
Late 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Glass, Murano Glass
H 2.76 in W 7.49 in D 7.09 in
Large Murano Glass "RED-GREEN" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
This
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 4.53 in W 6.3 in D 5.79 in
1.7kg Murano Glass "RED-YELLOW" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Murano glass bowl, ashtray element
Origin:
Murano, Italy
Decade:
1970s
This
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.76 in W 8.47 in D 6.5 in
Large Pink Murano Bubble Glass Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant purple pink Murano glass
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.56 in W 6.89 in D 6.11 in
Large Green Murano Bubble Glass Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant green Murano
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.49 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
Large Pink Murano Bubble Glass Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant purple pink
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.45 in W 6.5 in D 6.5 in
2, 5kg Murano Glass "Centerpiece" 57cm Bowl Shell Element Murano, Italy, 1970
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original vintage glass shell bowl element was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. It is made
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 6.7 in W 22.45 in D 11.42 in
Large Pink Murano Bubble Glass Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant purple pink Murano glass
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.37 in W 5.71 in D 5.71 in
Large Red Murano Bubble Glass Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. An elegant purple red Murano
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.96 in W 5.52 in D 5.71 in
Large 1, 3kg Murano Sculptural Glass Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
This original glass shell bowl was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy. The element has a nice
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 2.64 in W 6.89 in D 6.5 in
1, 9kg Murano Glass "Centerpiece" 50cm Bowl Shell Element Murano, Italy, 1970
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
:
1970s
This original vintage glass shell bowl element was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Italy
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Murano Glass
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H 8.67 in W 19.69 in D 11.42 in
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Murano Midcentury Shell For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal murano midcentury shell for your home. A murano midcentury shell — often made from glass, murano glass and metal — can elevate any home. If you’re shopping for a murano midcentury shell, we have 577 options in-stock, while there are 8 modern editions to choose from as well. Your living room may not be complete without a murano midcentury shell — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A murano midcentury shell, designed in the mid-century modern, Art Deco or Hollywood Regency style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Many designers have produced at least one well-made murano midcentury shell over the years, but those crafted by Cenedese, Barovier&Toso and Alfredo Barbini are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Murano Midcentury Shell?
A murano midcentury shell can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $929, while the lowest priced sells for $80 and the highest can go for as much as $95,560.
A Close Look at mid-century-modern Furniture
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Iconic Furniture Makes This 1958 Midwestern Home a True Mid-Century Gem
Designer Susan Yeley turned to 1stDibs to outfit an Indiana home with standout pieces that complement its modernist style.
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
Why Is Italy Such a Hotbed of Cool Design?
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
Welcome Back to Designer Russel Wright’s Mid-Century Hudson Valley Home
The industrial designer was known for his sleek, modern dinnerware, but his 1961 house and the landscape around it may be his most astonishing creation.
Cara Greenberg Wrote the Book on Mid-Century Modern Furniture. Here Are Her Auction Finds
The author and design expert was among the first to define the style and coined its alliterative name. She shares her favorite pieces on 1stDibs Auctions — including some steals.
Jochum Rodgers Has Long Brought the Best of 20th-Century Design to Berlin and Beyond
Opened by Hans-Peter Jochum some 40 years ago, the pioneering gallery specializes in mid-century gems but also spotlights contemporary pieces by European artists and makers.
A Guide to Herman Miller’s Most Iconic Furniture
The prolific manufacturer has partnered with many of the world’s top designers since opening its doors in 1923. Here are some of the company’s greatest hits, which helped transform the American home and office.
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Sea Green Murano
Black Murano Sommerso
Murano Midcentury Shell Bowl
Cenedese Murano Pink
Green Glass Tall Lamps
Retro Red Stemware
Xl Silvered Shell
Small Italian Modern Credenza
Murano Glass Fan Vase
Retro Fan Shaped Vase
Murano Tortoise Vase
Tortoiseshell Glass Vase
Honey Dish
Tortoise Shell Glass Lamp
Vintage Modern Vase
Vintage Murano Sommerso Vase Italian
Vintage Colored Glass Objects
Pair Large Green Vases