Alfredo Barbini Murano Sommerso Art Glass Bowl

A superb Alfredo Barbini Murano Sommerso art glass bowl, dating to circa 1960 and displaying the bold sculptural form and exceptional use of colour associated with Barbini's mid-century work. This substantial hand-formed bowl has a wonderfully fluid asymmetric shape, with three dramatically folded and pulled sections creating an organic, almost trefoil-shaped form. The colouring is particularly striking, combining rich amethyst and magenta glass with intense blue and turquoise tones, encased within clear glass. The considerable thickness of the glass creates wonderful optical effects, with the colours appearing to change according to the viewing angle and available light. From some angles the piece appears predominantly amethyst, while from others the brilliant blue and turquoise outer sections become much more pronounced. The deeply sculpted rim and substantial weight give the bowl an impressive sense of quality and presence. ALFREDO BARBINI Alfredo Barbini (1912–2007) was one of the leading figures of 20th-century Murano glassmaking. Renowned for his highly sculptural approach to glass, Barbini produced some of the most distinctive Italian art glass of the post-war period, frequently combining substantial forms with rich colour and technically accomplished glassworking. This bowl is an excellent example of the expressive, organic aesthetic that made Murano glass internationally fashionable during the mid-20th century. Material: Hand-formed Sommerso art glass Colours: Amethyst, magenta, blue, turquoise and clear DECORATIVE APPEAL A particularly striking and highly decorative example of Alfredo Barbini's Murano glass, combining bold sculptural modelling with an exceptionally attractive palette.