1960s Mid-Century Tricolor Murano Glass Geode Bowl Attributed to Archimede Seguso

Details

Description

Attributed to the artist Archimedes Seguso, the substantial, art glass geode bowl here for your consideration exemplifies the mastery of … Read more Attributed to the artist Archimedes Seguso, the substantial, art glass geode bowl here for your consideration exemplifies the mastery of mid-century Italian Sommerso technique. Produced circa 1960, the piece features three distinct layers of controlled, submerged color: a rich cranberry-pink rim that transitions into a deep cobalt blue core, anchored by a brilliant emerald green base. The entire biomorphic form is encased in an exceptionally thick, 1.5-inch layer of clear, lustrous glass.

The organic, undulating contours of the rim reflect a post-modern sensibility while honoring traditional Venetian craftsmanship. This heavy, sculptural object functions effectively as a standalone centerpiece, a refined vide-poche, or a low-profile accent on a console or coffee table.

The primary reasons supporting an attribution to Seguso include:

1. The Multi-Layered Sommerso Technique
While many Murano factories utilized the sommerso (submerged) method, a flawless triple-cased transition—where a vibrant cranberry-pink sits precisely atop a deep cobalt core, resting perfectly on an emerald green base—requires exceptional heat control. Seguso was celebrated for pioneering and refining complex, multi-layered color harmonies without causing the distinct layers to bleed into one another or create unwanted distortion at the borders.

2. The Weight and Glass Thickness
The sheer mass of this piece—weighing over 4 pounds with a 1.5-inch thick clear outer casing—is a classic hallmark of the "geode" forms produced by Seguso in the late 1950s and 1960s. Lesser imitations or later exports often featured thinner clear casings to reduce material costs and production time, whereas Seguso pieces embraced a heavy, substantial sculptural presence.

3. The Biomorphic Form and Flat Polished Base
The gently undulating, organic rim paired with a perfectly flat, cold-worked, and professionally polished base underside is structurally textbook for Seguso’s production. These pieces were designed to be tactile, catching the ambient light through the faceted or curved thick outer glass, which serves as a lens for the jewel tones inside.

4. Established Literature and Typology
Geode bowls of this exact scale (roughly 6 to 7 inches) and undulating form are well-documented in mid-century Murano reference catalogs. Notably, scholar Leslie Piña’s standard reference works on Archimede Seguso and 20th-century Murano glass illustrate identical biomorphic sommerso geode bowls produced by the furnace during this exact era.

Because the vast majority of these pieces left the furnace with only temporary paper labels rather than acid-etched signatures, the combination of the 1.5-inch casing thickness, the precise tricolor palette, and the distinctive heavy geode shape provides a strong academic basis for the attribution.

Condition
Excellent vintage condition. The glass exhibits brilliant clarity with no chips, cracks, or flea bites. The underside features a professionally polished flat base, displaying authentic, minor shelf wear consistent with age and careful historical use.

Details
Creator: Attributed to Murano Master Glassmakers

Styles: Mid-Century Modern, Italian, Post-Modern

Place of Origin: Murano, Italy

Period: 1960s

Materials: Blown Glass, Sommerso Art Glass

Condition: Very Good (Original condition unaltered, light base wear)

Dimensions & Weight
Width: 6.5 in.

Depth: 7.25 in.

Height: 2.5 in.

Glass Thickness: 1.5 in.

Weight: 4 lbs. 5.7 oz. See less