What is sommerso glass in Murano art?

Sommerso glass is a Murano glass method that places one colour layer inside another clear or coloured layer. The word “sommerso” means “submerged” in Italian and Murano artists developed the style during the twentieth century, mainly around the 1930s. The process needs repeated dipping of hot glass into fresh molten layers, as thick casing creates deep colour effects with sharp edges and heavy weight. Blue, amber, green, red, and purple combinations became popular in post-war Italian design.

Seguso Vetri d’Arte played a major role in the style’s growth and Flavio Poli produced famous sommerso designs during the 1950s. Many collectors link those shapes with classic mid-century Italian interiors, as sommerso pieces often carry strong geometric forms rather than painted decoration. Thick bases plus rich colour blocks made them popular in American homes during the 1950s and 1960s. Vintage sommerso vases from respected Murano studios may sell for hundreds or thousands at auction and rare signed examples attract strong interest from modern design collectors in London, Milan, and New York.