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
$1,850
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
$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
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
$2,149
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
Flavio Poli Seguso Murano Red Yellow Sommerso Art Glass Vase
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Barcelona, ES
A wonderful red and yellow hand blown Murano glass vase. Designed by Flavio Poli and manufactured by Seguso Vetri d'Arte. Italy, 1950s. Red glass with a layer of yellow glass cased into clear glass using the Sommerso technique. Amazing organic design and eye-catching colors. Lovely to be used as flower vase or decorative vase. To be exhibited alone or with other vases and bowls as a part of a larger Murano glass collection...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass
$1,985
H 11.23 in W 5.12 in D 5.52 in
Murano Art Glass Jug by Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d'Arte ca. 1962
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Murano Art Glass Jug by Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d'Arte ca. 1962 A Murano art glass jug designed by Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d'Arte ca. 1962. Cristallo antico...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$1,529Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.93 in W 7.49 in D 2.76 in
Italian Murano Artistic Glass Large Vase by Flavio Poli for Seguso, 1960s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Refined large artistic Murano glass vase in shades of green made by Flavio Poli for Seguso, 1960s. This vase is characterized by a particular design shape. Made with green blown glas...
Murano Glass
$417
H 6.89 in W 2.76 in D 1.58 in
Vintage Green and Orange Sommerso Murano Glass Vase by Flavio Poli, Italy
By Flavio Poli
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s. This vase is made in Sommerso Murano glass, which has been hand blown with three different colors: transparent, orange and green. It is a vintage item, therefo...
Murano Glass, Sommerso
Flavio Poli Seguso Red Orange Sommerso Murano Art Glass Vase
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sculptural Murano art glass vase in shades of Red and Orange. Designed by Flavio Poli and manufactured by Seguso Vetri d'Arte. Italy, 1950s. Vibrant colors: Red and orange glass with...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
$2,626
H 3.35 in W 11.03 in D 8.67 in
Large Green Murano Glass Dish Flavio Poli for Seguso Attributed c. 1960
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
A beautiful large Mid-Century Modern vintage Murano glass dish, bowl or vide-poche attributed to Flavio Poli for Seguso circa 1960. Beautifully understated and elegantly simple Amber...
Blown Glass, Murano 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