Vetreria Fratelli Toso, c.1950s-60s.

Venetian Murano Sommerso bowl, with the label on the bottom, "Murano Glass. Made in Italy." Such labels were applied by the Fratelli Toso Company, Murano until 1982. Toso pieces are unique hand-blown and modeled artworks. This bowl is Ermanno Toso style, 1950s-1960s.

The bowl consists of three layers of glass: opaque lattimo / milky glass, with cased golden copper aventurine inside [looks like shiny gold]; the layer of cranberry-red glass over it inside the bowl; clear glass coating covers the entire bowl: the finest and most complicated type of Sommerso glass technique.

The Sommerso technique was originally developed in the 1930's by Antonio Da Ross. Sommerso (Italian for "submerged") is the Murano glassmaking technique of creating two or more layers of contrasting glass without the colors mixing together. It is formed by dipping colored glass into molten glass of a different color, before blowing the glass into the required form. The outermost 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, Arte Nuova and Luigi Onesto. ["Glass Encyclopedia"]

Rates vary per zone/country. We will adjust shipping costs with invoice.

US: Priority (c 2-4 days) --------- $99.50
Canada: Priority (c 2-7 weeks) --- $120.50
World: Priority (c 2-8 weeks) ---- $180.50

The solid glass bowl is c.11.1/8” x 11” [c.28.3cm x 27.9cm]; c.2” [5.1cm] deep; no chips. No hairlines, very good / fine condition.