Modernist Murano Green and Yellow Layered Mandruzzato Sommerso Vase (1960's)

A striking modernist Murano Sommerso square block art glass vase with layers of sommerso colors of green and yellow inner core within a clear glass body. The layering is exceptionally dramatic and catches the light beautifully, the work is probably from the Mandruzzato glassworks from the island of Murano. A scan of similar creations shows this style to be Mandruzzato, although the stickers used to identify the piece have long since worn off or been eliminated by meticulous housekeepers.

The sommerso technique was originally developed in the 1930's by Carlo Scarpa at Venini & Co. Sommerso (Italian for "submerged") is the Murano glassmaking technique of creating two or more layers of contrasting glass without the colours mixing together. It is formed by dipping coloured glass into molten glass of a different colour, before blowing the glass into the required form. The outermost layer is often clear. During the 1950's the sommerso style became world famous due to the work of Flavio Poli, artistic director of Seguso Vetri d'Arte. There have since been many other factories in the Murano region which have made pieces in this style, and as such it is difficult to be certain of the manufacturer without labels or signatures present. Other well known manufacturers that have produced glassware in the sommerso style include Mandruzzato, Galliano Ferro, Formia, Oball, and Arte Nuova.

The vase measures 5 1/8" tall by 1.5" square. It is in excellent condition and displays beautifully from every angle. The inner and outer rim, edges, corners and sides are all clean.

As with all blown glass there is slight distortion flaws and thickness variation, overall this is a superb example with striking shape and colors. There is one pit in the glass near the bottom, this is original to the manufacture and is of no distraction. A stunning Murano glass vase that is beautiful with flowers or on its own.