Oball Glass (Murano, Italy)

Vetreria Artistica Oball (known as Oball Glass) was founded on the island of Murano in 1978 by master glassmaker Luigi Onesto. Born into a traditional Venetian glassmaking family, Onesto had been involved in the craft from an early age, beginning his formal apprenticeship at just 15 years old at the Gambaro & Poggi furnaces.

When Onesto eventually established his own independent studio, he was joined by his sons, Fabio and Michele, turning Oball into a multi-generational family enterprise that continues to operate today.

In the collecting world, Oball Glass is celebrated for its absolute mastery of the sommerso (submerged) technique. Onesto and his sons created heavy, highly polished vessels by suspending vibrant, contrasting layers of coloured glass - often tones like amethyst, ruby, and sapphire - within a thick, crystal-clear outer casing. Their most sought-after late-20th-century pieces include teardrop vases, geometric perfume bottles, and intricate marine sculptures.

For collectors looking to authenticate these finds, Oball pieces are frequently hand-engraved on the base with signatures such as 'L. Onesto Murano' or simply 'Oball'. Additionally, because their spectacular sommerso pieces were highly sought after in the Western market, they can frequently be found bearing the original foil labels of major luxury importers, most notably the American distributor Oggetti.

Read more about Italian Murano glass production here.