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.
1960's Italian Murano Glass Sommerso Teardrop Sculpture by Flavio Poli
By Flavio Poli
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Flavio Poli Teardrop Art Glass Sculpture in shades of pink, blue and greens! Nice size perfect to use by itself or in a grouping.
Art Glass
1950s Glass 'Shell' Sculpture by Flavio Poli, for Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Murano
By Flavio Poli
Located in London, England
Acid-etched sommerso elongated glass stylised seashell in shaded purple, red and clear glass. The sculpture has been acid-etched and has a tactile textured surface.
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Flavio Poli & Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Corroso Sommerso Vase, Italy 1957
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
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
Murano Sommerso vase by Flavio Poli
By Flavio Poli
Located in MADRID, ES
Murano glass vase sommerso designed by Flavio Poli. Italy, 1960s. Height: 32cm Length:14cm Width: 5cm Flavio Poli (1900-1984) was an Italian designer and artist famous for his work...
Murano Glass
$300Sale Price|30% 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
$4,650
H 9.06 in W 8.67 in D 5.12 in
Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d'Arte Sommerso Murano Art Glass Vase Mid Century
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Exquisite murano glass vase documented to designer Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d'Arte circa 1950. Made using Flavio Poli's signature sommerso technique that employs layer of glass s...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Uranium Glass
$1,008
H 12.21 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
Italian Modern Murano Sommerso Glass Vase By Flavio Poli, Italy 70s
By Flavio Poli
Located in Lucija, SI
Rare murano sommerso glass vasse from the 70s era. Designed by Flavio Poli. In excellent condition. Dimensions: H 31 cm D 12 cm Hole 0.8 cm
Murano Glass
Rare Art Glass Vase by Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri D'Arte
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rare Art Glass Vase by Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri D'Arte A rare art glass vase designed by Flavio Poli and manufactured by Seguso Vetri D'Arte Murano Venice around 1961. The vase ...
Art Glass
Flavio Poli Murano Sommerso Glass Ashtray, Grey, 1960s, Excellent
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Astonishing Grey Ashtray or Catch-All By Flavio Poli for Seguso in Murano Sommerso Glass. The item is in excellent condition. Dimensions: 5,11 diameter x 3,14 H inches cm 13 x...
Murano Glass
Vintage Art Glass Bowl by Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri D'Arte 1950s
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Art Glass Bowl by Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri D'Arte 1950s A vintage Murano art glass bowl, designed by Flavio Poli and manufactured by Seguso Vetri D'Arte Murano Venice ci...
Art Glass
$505
H 2.76 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in
Murano Sommerso Blue Glass Bowl by Flavio Poli for Seguso, Italy, 1960
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in London, GB
Glass bowl square shape by Flavio Poli for Seguso 1960s in deep blue. The bowls are hand blown, known as Venetian Sommerso, made in Murano, Venice, Italy. The bowls a combination of...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$960Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.5 in W 5 in D 4 in
Flavio Poli Sommerso Caviar Murano Glass Diamond Bowl by Seguso, Italy, 1960s
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Vienna, AT
A stunning Murano Sommerso technique art glass bowl from the 1960s, designed by Flavio Poli and hand-blown by Seguso Vetri d'Arte in Italy. This beautifully faceted, hexagonal, diamo...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$360
H 7 in Dm 3.63 in
Beautiful Seguso Murano Sommerso Alabaster Glass Vase by Flavio Poli Italy 1960s
By Seguso, Flavio Poli
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This exquisite vintage Murano glass vase was designed by Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d’Arte in Venice, Italy, circa 1960s. Beautifully executed in the celebrated Sommerso technique,...
Art Glass
Flavio Poli, Murano Glass Objet d Virtue
By Flavio Poli
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Murano solid glass sculpture with a sinuous shape. A deep purple center is suspended within the thick smoked glass body. Sculpture can be oriented 2 ways.
Murano Glass