Murano Sommerso bowl, cranberry pink with four crystal points, 29.5 cm, 1960s

This sculptural centrepiece bowl of mouth-blown art glass comes from Murano and was presumably made in the 1960s, when sommerso bowls shaped freely at the furnace were among the most sought-after works of the Venetian glass island. In the sommerso technique, made famous above all by Flavio Poli at Seguso Vetri d’Arte, coloured glass layers are “submerged” in thick, clear crystal glass so that the colour seems to glow from within; the combination of fuchsia pink with a light green accent in the base is a typical Murano colour scheme of the period. There is no label or signature on this piece, which is why no specific glassworks or designer is named; the form, technique and colour scheme do, however, correspond to the Murano sommerso bowls known on the international collector's market.

From a deep bowl, four tall, curving points draw outward and end in clear, colourless crystal tips. Strong glass ribs radiate upward from the base and give the body a sculptural structure. A luminous core in cranberry pink and magenta lies beneath a thick, clear crystal casing, and at the base a light green reflection sets a fresh counterpoint to the warm pink; depending on the light, the colour shifts between fuchsia, raspberry and deep wine red.

Measuring 29.5 cm wide, 18 cm deep and 13 cm high, the bowl has the generous format of a centrepiece for a dining table, sideboard or console, whether as a glowing focal point, a fruit bowl or a sculptural standalone piece, and suits a mid-century interior as well as a contemporary setting. The thick-walled glass has a noticeable weight and shows the fine tool marks of free shaping at the furnace. It is in very good condition, without chips or scratches, the crystal is clear and free of clouding, and all four points are intact.