Vintage Flavio Poli Style Paperweight in Brown Murano Glass

About This Piece

Vintage Design

The great skills of Murano based artisans shows in many different ways. Some are able blowers, others can freehanded create sculptures and elaborate bowls, and finally some master the technique of glass shaping and polishing. From their hands, some of the most intriguing geometrical Murano pieces are born, including this unusual and highly attractive paperweight (or ashtray) with fourteen facets.

Realised in the "sommerso" technique, with a brown glass fuse seemingly submerged in a clear glass main body, it is massive and mesmerising with its ingot like shape. The bowl is irregular in shape, proving that it is, after all, a hand-made object.

There are no signs of damage, be them scratches or dents, except for the very light hairlines expectable on a 50+ years old object. It has a light and even patina overall, that only adds to the charm of the piece.

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Creator	Flavio Poli
Design Period	1960 to 1969
Production Period	1960 to 1969
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	The style of the design is reminiscent of the designer and/or manufacturer
Style	Mid-Century
Detailed Condition	Good — This vintage item remains fully functional, but it shows sign of age through scuffs, dings, faded finishes, minimal upholstery defects, or visible repairs.
Restoration and Damage Details	Light wear consistent with age and use, Heavy signs of use, Patina consistent with age and use, Minor fading.
Product Code	SEU-1291917
Materials	Murano Glass
Color	Brown
Height	6 cm 5.5 cm
Diameter	7.5 cm

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Italy
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items
Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.

Delivery Details

Delivery will be completed by a parcel service such as UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
You will receive a tracking number to monitor the status of your shipment.
Delivery will take place between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine the packaging upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damaged packaging, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note, take pictures, and—if the item inside shows damages—contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations regarding damaged packaging represents your acceptance of the completed order in perfect condition.

About the Creator

Flavio Poli

Italian glass artist Flavio Poli (1900-1980) is praised for his contribution to the development of Murano glass , championing a new style during the 1950s known as Sommerso, or submerged glass.

Poli was born in 1900 in Chioggia and was trained as a ceramist at the Istituto d'Arte di Venezia. In 1929, Poli began working as a glass artist at the IVAM (Industrie Vetraie Artistiche Murano) glass factory, where he designed large scale sculptures, animals, Novecento-style nude figures, bowls and urns in glass.

In 1934, Poli began working as a glass artist for the firm Barovier, Seguso, & Ferro (later known as Seguso Vetri d’Arte) in Murano. Within three years, he was made a partner and appointed Artistic Director of the company.

During his time at Seguso, Poli designed alongside Archimede Seguso (1909-1999) creating complex Murano Glass lighting installations. During the 1950s, the height of Polio’s career, he devised a style of 'submerged' glass, a technique made by overlapping different layers of glass, with diverse consistencies and colors. His series of hand-blown Sommerso glass pieces was awarded the Compasso d'Oro prize in 1954. Over the course of his career, he won five Grand Prix awards at the Milan Triennials, in 1936 for the glass panels Lo Zodiaco and La Mescita, and also in 1940, 1951, 1957 and 1960. His designs were also presented in various editions of Venice’s Biennale exhibition, as well as in the World Fair held in Brussels.

Poli left Seguso in 1963, and between 1964 and 1966, he led the artistic glass division at the Società Veneziana di Conterie e Cristallerie.

Poli passed away in 1984 in Venice. Many of Poli’s pieces can be found in museums around the world including in the Murano Glass Museum, the Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi in Rome, the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia, and the MoMA in New York.