Murano Sommerso

The sommerso technique was originally developed in the 1930's by Carlo Scarpa at Venini & Co. Sommerso (Italian for "submerged") is the Murano glassmaking technique of creating two or more layers of contrasting glass without the colours mixing together. It is formed by dipping coloured glass into molten glass of a different colour, before blowing the glass into the required form. The outermist layer is often clear. During the 1950's the sommerso style became world famous due to the work of Flavio Poli, artistic director of Seguso Vetri d'Arte. There have since been many other factories in the Murano region which have made pieces in this style, and as such it is difficult to be certain of the manufacturer without labels or signatures present. Other well known manufacturers that have produced glassware in the sommerso style include Mandruzzato, Galliano Ferro, Formia, Oball, and Arte Nuova.