At Cambi Auction: Important Murano Glass

On April 14, 2026, Cambi Auction House will present the auction “Important Murano Glass” in Milan, at its premises in Via San Marco 22. Describing its exceptional nature is Marco Arosio, Head of the 20th Century Decorative Arts and Murano Glass Department, who defines this sale as a hardly repeatable opportunity. After nearly ten years of catalogues dedicated exclusively to Murano glass, the expert now introduces a selection of works of extraordinary rarity.

The auction opens with a collection from the heirs of the painter Renato Tomassi. Among the most significant pieces are three extraordinary vases created by Hans Stoltenberg Lerche for Fratelli Toso in the early 1910s—extremely rare examples from the artist’s earliest and most sought-after production.

Also of great importance is the group from a refined collector from Turin, who contributed to the landmark 1984 exhibition on 20th-century Italian glass in Turin. This section features iconic works such as the red glass paste cactus by Napoleone Martinuzzi and a very rare hexagonal vase in translucent pink with gold leaf by Carlo Scarpa for Cappellin.

Also by Scarpa is an important egg-shaped vase with relief decoration on a corroded surface, presented at the Venice Biennale in 1936—a testament to his extraordinary formal research.

The auction demonstrates that Murano is not synonymous with Venini alone. Among the highlights is Flavio Poli, with a vase and two famous blue-ruby sommerso glass fish, awarded at the 1957 Milan Triennale.

Equally captivating is one of Ercole Barovier’s most iconic works: the famous Groviglio bowl, offered in the extremely rare version with a black sommerso band, previously presented at both the 1940 Milan Triennale and the 1940 Venice Biennale.

Among the most anticipated lots is also a vase from Venini’s Mosaico Multicolore series, distinguished by its sophisticated decoration of submerged multicolored tesserae. A similar example was sold in 2016, reaching the record price of €200,000.

From France come some of Fulvio Bianconi’s most celebrated glass pieces, from the collection of Ambassador Gérard Gaussen, a key figure in the preservation of Venetian heritage.

Closing the auction is an international selection assembled by gallerist Louise Berndt, alongside sculptural works by master glassmaker Loredano Rosin, which broaden the perspective beyond Murano, creating a dialogue between tradition and contemporary experimentation.

The exhibition will be open to the public on April 9, 10, 11, and 13 from 10 AM to 7 PM, and on April 14 from 10 AM to 1 PM. The full catalogue is available online on Cambi’s website, where visitors can browse the lots, download the PDF, and register to participate.