Murano Sommerso bowl, cobalt blue & clear glass, sculptural, 42 cm, 1960s/70s

This large-format Sommerso bowl made of thick-walled, mouth-blown art glass stands in the tradition of the glassworks on Murano and was presumably created in Italy in the 1960s or 1970s. A deep cobalt to sapphire blue forms the core within a substantial layer of clear glass, crafted using the Sommerso technique, in which layers of colored glass are overlaid one after another without bleeding into each other. There is no label or signature on this piece, which is why the origin is to be understood as a stylistic classification rather than a confirmed manufacturer attribution; however, the glass mass, color application, and the form pulled freely at the furnace correspond to typical Murano works of that period.

Rising from a compact, slightly faceted base is an elongated, boat-shaped body, the ends of which taper into wide, sweeping points. One side rises in a high, crescent-shaped arch, the opposite side tapers out flat and wide, while two smaller, downward-curving extensions give the form tension and movement. The blue intensifies toward the base into a rich, almost ink-like core and transitions into clear glass toward the tips, making the edges appear like ice in backlight. Depending on the angle of view, the bowl is reminiscent of a wave or a ray, thus becoming an abstract glass sculpture.

With a width of 42 cm, the bowl is an expansive object for a sideboard, dining table, console, or display case, serving as a centerpiece as well as a pure sculpture, and it blends into a mid-century interior just as well as into a minimalist, contemporary setting. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, or losses; small air bubbles and fine streaks in the glass are manufacturing-related and not a defect. The dimensions are 42 cm in width, 22 cm in depth, and 19 cm in height.