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.
Red Murano Glass Sculptural Centerpiece, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Design
By Flavio Poli
Located in Palermo, IT
Certainly, Christian. Here is a title and description for the red glass centerpiece, with a focus on Mid-Century Modern: Title: Red Murano Glass Sculptural Centerpiece, Mid-Century...
Murano Glass, Stained Glass
Duck Murano Glass Vetri di Murano Italy Vintage Art Glass, 1950s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A Venetian sculptural duck figurine in hand blown glass, produced on the isle of Murano, circa 1950s. A nice piece of art for any room.
Art Glass
Mid-Century Modern Steuben Glass Eagle Sculpture, USA, 1950s
By Steuben Glass
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century Steuben clear glass small figure of an American eagle
Glass
$917
H 7.88 in W 3.15 in D 2.76 in
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Red Blue Yellow Murano Glass Clown, Italy, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
Murano glass clown in the colors blue, red, yellow white and orange. Amazing glass clown sculpture designed and manufactured in the Mid-Century Modern era in Murano, Italy. Very goo...
Murano Glass
Murano Glass Clown Italy, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
The glass clown was designed and manufactured in the Mid-Century Modern era in Murano, Italy. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or chiggers.
Murano Glass
$10,531 / item
H 13.78 in Dm 19.69 in
"Red Passion", Murano Glass Centerpiece, Handmade in Italy, Unique Design, 2022
By Mosche Bianche
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
The jellyfish is the main element of the Mosche Bianche's "Medusa" Collection: fluid, delicate but also dangerous and deadly. It represents the water, the circle of life. Glass f...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Mid-Century Modern Steuben Glass Penguin Sculpture, USA, 1950s
By Steuben Glass
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century Steuben clear glass small figure of a penguin
Glass
Italian mid-century modern ceramic fish-shaped sculpture, 1950s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern ceramic fish-shaped sculpture, 1950s Fish-shaped sculpture in colored and glazed ceramic. The rounded body features front opening with wavy profile. The in...
Ceramic
Door Handle in blown Murano Glass vibrant Red color 1950s Italy
Located in Villaverla, IT
Door Handle in blown Murano Glass vibrant Red color 1950s Italy. Unique Italian Venetian Murano glass door handle in red color, circa 1950s, ...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$753Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.82 in W 6.89 in D 6.5 in
Seguso. Mid-Century hand-blown Murano glass vase, Italy, 1950s
By Flavio Poli, Paolo Venini, Seguso, Barovier&Toso
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Mid-Century hand-blown Murano glass vase by Seguso, Italy, 1950s. Entirely handmade and hand-blown in one piece, with the shape of a classic vase at the bottom, and more organically ...
Murano Glass
$5,800
H 33.5 in W 6.5 in D 10 in
Figurative Mahogany Sculpture Mid-Century Modern 1950s Brazilian Abstract
Located in Dallas, TX
Figurative modernist hand-carved mahogany sculpture purchased in Brazil in the 1950s. Signed to the bottom rear edge. Brazilian rosewood plinth base in...
Wood
1950s Italian Mid Century Modern Hand-Painted Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Mid Century Modern hand painted women sculpture. Place of Origin: Italy Date of Manufacture: 1950s In style: Mid Century Modern Materials & Techniques: Ceramic Conditi...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Steuben Glass Elephant Sculpture, USA, 1950s
By Steuben Glass
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century Steuben clear glass small figure of an elephant (AS IS-CHIP TO EAR)
Glass