Formia Glass (Murano, Italy) Art Glass 13" Centrepiece, in Green/Blue *RARE FIND*

$335.75 AUD
$335.75 AUD
$395.00 AUD
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Model Centrepiece
Colour Green, Sky Blue

Production 1970s

Dimensions 14cm (6") tall, 33cm (13") long, 14cm (6") wide

Condition Great to excellent condition with no major wear that we can see. A couple small surface scratches externally, however minimal.

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Click and Collect

Orders can be collected from our Newtown showroom during opening times. An email will be sent when your order is ready for collection.

Our address is:
8 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042 

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About the Maker

Formia Glass

Operating officially under the name Fornace Mian, Formia Glass has been synonymous with exceptional Murano glassmaking for over six decades. The furnace was established in 1962 by Alfio Mian and his son, Giuliano. Today, the studio remains a family enterprise, still operating on the island under the guidance of the Mian family's third generation.

While the parent furnace is Fornace Mian, the 'Formia Glass' brand name was widely used for the studio's output of decorative art glass exported to international markets.

Formia is perhaps best known for their highly stylised, heavy-cased animal figurines - ranging from pelicans and toucans to intricate marine life - often utilising techniques like sommerso to suspend vibrant layers of colour within thick, crystal-clear glass.

Unlike many mid-century makers that eventually closed their doors, Formia has consistently thrived and attracted top-tier talent. Over the years, the studio has grown from a mid-century startup into one of the most important and prolific glass factories on the island. Today, their operations boast a roster of ten dedicated teams headed by master glassblowers (maestri), assisted by over 60 skilled artisans and craftsmen.

Vintage pieces from Formia are most frequently authenticated by their original paper or foil stickers, which typically bear the 'Formia Murano' branding alongside the traditional 'Made in Italy' hallmark.

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About the Region

Murano Glass

Murano, a group of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, has been a major centre of glassmaking for centuries. Its history encompasses delicate vessels, elaborate decoration and sculptural art glass, with techniques and designs developed by many different workshops rather than a single uniform style.

In 1291, the Venetian authorities ordered glass production to move to Murano to reduce the risk of fires from furnaces in Venice. Over subsequent centuries, the island's glassmakers developed and refined methods that became influential far beyond the lagoon. This long history provides the background to the inventive forms and colour combinations associated with twentieth-century Murano glass.

During the mid-century decades, established skills were adapted to modern interiors through sculptural bowls, vases, centrepieces and animal figures. Some designs emphasised substantial bodies and flowing outlines; others explored lighter forms, surface decoration or intricate pattern. The variety is an important part of Murano's appeal, and no one shape or finish defines everything made there.

Techniques encountered in this collecting area include sommerso, in which layers of glass are enclosed within further layers, and bullicante, with deliberately arranged bubbles. Avventurina glass contains sparkling copper crystals that can appear golden; this is distinct from decoration using actual gold leaf. These techniques are useful descriptive terms, but their presence alone does not establish a maker or place of manufacture.

Related collections include Fratelli Toso, Formia Glass and Oball Glass, alongside glass bearing the Cristallo Venezia CCC brand. Individual collection pages distinguish documented maker histories from the more limited evidence available for some labels and commercial brands.

Labels, signatures, contemporary catalogues and documented comparisons can all contribute to attribution. A generic 'Murano Glass, Made in Italy' label does not identify a particular workshop, and neither a missing label nor a familiar-looking form settles an object's origin. Specific maker attributions need supporting evidence, with uncertainty retained where the surviving record is incomplete.

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