Mid Century Pair of Murano Glass Chandeliers by Flavio Poli for Seguso

Fine pair of mid 20th Century (circa 1955) hand blown glass chandeliers designed by Flavio Poli for Seguso, Murano, of vase-form, these wonderful chandeliers consist of a metal frame containing the bulbs which is then surrounded by a series of hand blown glass vessels which attach to the frame and to each other to create organic-looking sculptures hanging in the air. The effect being that these pieces are just as effective as room decoration when not lit during the daytime as they are when lit in the evenings. The overall visual effect is rather like looking at pieces of white coral. The chandeliers were designed by Flavio Poli, one of the great Italian glass designers of the 20th century. Poli began as a ceramics designer, quickly transferring his energies to glass and appointed as artistic director of what was to become Seguso in 1934. Poli was particularly renowned for his work in the sommerso or submerged glass technique, where glass of one colour was cased inside glass of another, but the present design was produced both in multi-coloured glass of that sort and in traditional crystal. Poli continued to design for Seguso until 1963 and this chandelier design dates from the 50s-early 60s, becoming one of the classic designs of that period. Indeed so enduring is the design that the Murano glass manufacturers still produce modern versions of this design today. The chandeliers are technically extremely virtuosic. Each of the bubble elements has to be blown by hand in to a mould and then assembled around the central frame. The decoration on the glass elements the result of the patterns on the mould itself meaning that the decoration is very consistent and reflects the light similarly from piece to piece. Finding a single original example of this model of chandelier is not easy but we are delighted to be able to offer a pair. The chandeliers are of good size-large but not too large. These pieces are of good scale but not of palatial size and so can be enjoyed in the modern home with ease. A rare opportunity to acquire a pair of chandeliers of iconic design made by one of the leading Italian makers of the 20th century.