Murano Sommerso Bowl / Ashtray — Cobalt & Amethyst with Wavy Ridges, Seguso Style, 1960s/70s

Sculptural Murano sommerso bowl in cobalt and amethyst-pink, made in one of the island's better workshops in the 1960s to early 1970s. The free-form body displays three clearly layered color strata—a deep dark cobalt blue casing that almost condenses into black-blue at the two rolled wave crests on the narrow sides, a middle layer of delicate amethyst-pink that lights up with a subtle opalescent shimmer in cold light, and a crystal-clear to slightly bluish core in the hollow. The colors flow smoothly into each other without harsh boundaries—this is the classic vetro sommerso technique, perfected by Flavio Poli in the 1950s for Seguso Vetri d'Arte and made the hallmark of Murano studios in the decades that followed. The two opposing wave crests roll into cigar rests—a detail that reveals the dual function from the 1960s: This shape was originally sold as a posacenere, an ashtray. Today, the sculptural wavy line makes it one of the most charming vide-poche and decorative objects that collectors search for on 1stDibs under "Murano geode bowl."

Measuring 18 cm in length, 17.5 cm in width, and 9 cm in height, the bowl has the perfect size for a console, bedside table, desk, or sideboard—heavy enough to stand out as a solitary piece, compact enough to fit into an ensemble. The base is cleanly ground and polished (without a rough pontil mark—a sign of quality from better ateliers). Very good vintage condition, the surface shines in its full sommerso depth, no chips or cracks, only the usual light signs of wear on the base. A collectible piece of Italian studio glass that clearly bears the signature of the Poli era.