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.
Italian Gold and Emerald Green Glass Candlesticks by Flavio Poli for Seguso
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Italian handblown gold and emerald glass candlesticks by Flavio Poli for Seguso, Italy, circa 1970s.
Blown Glass
Flavio Poli Green Raw Glass Candle Holder Duck Seguso, 1950s
By Seguso, Flavio Poli
Located in Munich, DE
Duck sculpture candle holder designed by Flavio Poli in the 1950s. Seguso paper sticker included.
Murano Glass
Flavio Poli Sommerso Vase for Seguso, Murano Venice
By Flavio Poli, Seguso
Located in Vo', Veneto
"Sommerso" Glass Vase - Flavio Poli Seguso COD: VE08 H. 8cm - L. 29cm - P.13cm 1950s Sommerso vase smoked and transparent The "Sommero" is a form of art of Murano glass that has layers of contrasting colors (usually two), the technique involves the immersion of a thick blown in the crucible...
Glass, Art Glass
$1,834
H 12.6 in W 4.73 in D 2.37 in
Flavio Poli Seguso Murano Sommerso Red, Yellow & Clear Glass Teardrop Tall Vase
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in Barcelona, ES
A wonderful Sommerso red and yellow hand blown Murano glass teardrop large vase. Designed by Flavio Poli and manufactured by Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Italy, 1950s. Amazing teardrop shape...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass
Flavio Poli & Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Corroso Sommerso Vase, Italy 1957
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Flavio Poli & Seguso Vetri d'Arte Corroso (Acid etched) and Sommerso (Different color layers) Vase Made in Italy circa 1957 Literature: Seguso Vetri d'Arte Glass Objects From Murano (1932-1973) - Marc Heiremans...
Blown Glass
$2,450
H 6.5 in Dm 5.75 in
Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d'Arte Blown Glass Vase Model 7609, Italy, 1940s
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in New York, NY
Seguso Vetri d'Arte elegant glass vase model 7609, Italy, circa 1942. This Murano blown glass vase was made using the cordonato ritorto technique of gently twisting ribbed glass in a...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$585
H 6.7 in W 11.42 in D 4.14 in
Vintage Murano sommerso art glass freeform vase by Flavio Poli for Seguso 1960
By Seguso, Flavio Poli
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous & Timeless! This freefrom vase by Flavio Poli for Seguso italy 1960. Made fully by hand using the Sommerso technique. Capturing multiple layers of colour between clear glass...
Art Glass
Vase in Green and Amber Sommerso Glass, Flavio Poli for Seguso
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vase in Green and Amber Sommerso Glass, Flavio Poli for Seguso A vintage art glass vase, designed by Flavio Poli and manufactured by Seguso Vetri D'Arte Murano Venice in the 1960s. ...
Art Glass
$1,200
H 2.33 in W 6.46 in D 4.89 in
Green Murano Glass Bowl Attributed to Flavio Poli for Seguso d'Arte, circa 1960
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
A beautiful vintage Mid-Century Modern Murano glass bowl, dish or ashtray often attributed to Flavio Poli for Seguso d'Arte, circa 1960, but these are hard to place to a specific mak...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$1,065Sale Price|50% Off
H 3.94 in Dm 5.12 in
Midcentury Italian Faceted Murano Glass Vase Flavio Poli for Seguso Attributed
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Stunning round colorful (colorful) mouth blown Murano art glass bowl or vase attributed to Flavio Poli for Seguso, circa 1950-1965. Absolutely exceptional in every way utilizing the ...
Murano Glass
$1,136Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Murano Glass Vase, Sommerso, by Flavio Poli for Seguso, Burgundy
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
Decorative Vase - Rare Murano Glass - Flavio Poli for Seguso "Sommerso" is a defining style of Murano glassmaking, easily identified by the layers of different colours making up the...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Flavio Poli for Seguso Sommerso Vase Murano ca. 1953
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Flavio Poli for Seguso Sommerso Vase Murano ca. 1953 A large sommerso art glass vase manufactured by Seguso Vetri D'Arte and designed by Flavio P...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Glass Cup Alfa Romeo by Flavio Poli for Seguso
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Wonderful blue cup Alfa Romeo by Flavio Poli for Seguso. Hand blown Murano glass. Bibl.: F. Deboni "Murano 900", Bocca, Milano 1996, pag.229 fig.145 M.Heiremans, Seguso Vetri D'Ar...
$350Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.15 in W 5.12 in D 5.12 in
Murano Sommerso Red Faceted Glass Bowl by Flavio Poli 1960´s
By Seguso, Flavio Poli
Located in Lucenec, SK
1960s gorgeous green ashtray or catch-all By Flavio Poli for Seguso in Murano Sommerso Glass. Made in Italy It seems a diamond The item is in very good condition, no chips. Dimension...
Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
Flavio Poli Sommerso Glass Spherical Candleholders
By Flavio Poli
Located in Rochester, NY
A pair of luminous light blue and teal Murano Sommerso glass spherical candle holders by Flavio Poli, circa 1960s these are beautiful. Look at all pictures and read condition report ...
Art Glass
Seguso Vetri d'Arte Green Pulegoso Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Candlesticks
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful pair of Murano handblown green and gold flecks Italian art glass candlesticks. Documented to the Seguso Vetri d'Arte company, model number 7103, circa 1939 and published in...
Gold Leaf