1950's “elegance” sommerso vase, pattern no. 54181 by jaroslav beranek

A striking example of mid-century Czech glass artistry, this vase was designed in 1954 by great glassmaker and artist Jaroslav Beránek (1927–2006) for the Škrdlovice Artistic Crafts Center. Part of the “ELEGANCE” collection, the vase demonstrates the artist’s mastery of layered glass techniques and his innovative use of uranium inserts, which glow subtly under UV light, revealing a magical luminescence. The vase features a brown-to-green core layered with translucent glass, creating the distinctive Sommerso effect — a graceful gradation of color that interacts beautifully with light, emphasizing depth and material richness. Its solid yet refined form balances sculptural presence with functional elegance, making it equally at home as a display object or a functional vessel. Crafted from original crystal glass, this vase remains in excellent vintage condition, with only minimal signs of careful use. A rare and collectible piece, it embodies the technical sophistication and artistic vision of postwar Czech glass design, perfect for collectors and lovers of mid-century decorative art.