While Venini & Co.'s co-founder, Paolo Venini (1895–1959), was himself a highly talented glassware designer, his true genius was to invite forward-thinking Italian and international designers to Murano’s hallowed workshops to create Venini pieces — among them Gio Ponti, Massimo Vignelli, Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, Thomas Stearns of the United States and Fulvio Bianconi.
Beginning in the 1930s — and throughout the postwar years especially — Venini & Co. played a leading role in the revival of Italy’s high-end glass industry, pairing innovative modernist designers with the skilled artisans who created extraordinary chandeliers, sconces and other lighting in the centuries-old glass workshops on the Venetian island of Murano.
Paolo Venini trained and practiced as a lawyer for a time, though his family had been involved with glassmaking for generations. After initially buying a share in a Venetian glass firm — he and antiques dealer Giacomo Cappellin established Vetri Soffiati Cappellin Venini & C. in 1921 — Venini took over the company as his own in 1925, and under his direction, it produced mainly classical Baroque designs.
In 1932, Venini hired the young Carlo Scarpa— who would later distinguish himself as an architect — as his lead designer. Scarpa, working in concert with practiced glass artisans, completely modernized Venini, introducing simple, pared-down forms; bright primary colors; and bold patterns such as stripes, banding and abstract compositions that utilized cross sections of murrine (glass rods).
Paolo Venini’s best designs are thought to be his two-color Clessidre hourglasses, produced from 1957 onward, and the Fazzoletto (“handkerchief”) vase, designed with Bianconi in 1949. Bianconi’s masterworks are considered by many to be his Pezzato works — colorful vases with patterns that resemble those of a patchwork quilt.
Other noteworthy and highly collectible vintage Venini works include Ponti’s dual-tone stoppered bottles (circa 1948); rare glass sculptures from the Doge series by Stearns, the first American to design for the firm; Vignelli’s striped lanterns of the 1960s; the Occhi vases with eyelet-shaped patterns by Tobia Scarpa (son of Carlo); and, with their almost zen purity, the Bolle (“bubbles”) bottles designed by Wirkkala in 1968.
With these works — and many others by some of the creative titans of the 20th and 21st centuries — Venini has produced one of the truly great bodies of work in modern design.
Find antique and vintage Paolo Venini chandeliers, serveware, table lamps, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Venini Disaronno Italian Mid Century Hand Blown Blue Striped Glass Ice Bucket
By Paolo Venini
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Mid-Century Murano hand blown glass blue ice bucket with white vertical lines (signed: VENINI, DISARONNO)
Blown Glass
Venini Murano Glass Vase by Paolo Venini, Hand-Crafted Modern Design
By Paolo Venini
Located in New York, NY
Artisan hand blown Murano glass vase featuring striking colors of chartreuse and bark brown/grey. The colors forming rectangular frames surrounding the clear background. Signed on bo...
Murano Glass
Midcentury Italian Murano Glass Sputnik Chandelier by Paolo Venini for VeArt
By Paolo Venini
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Wonderful midcentury Italian sputnik chandelier designed by Paolo Venini for VeArt in 1960. The chandelier has a stylish chrome frame and 30 Murano gl...
Chrome
Paolo Caliari for Venini Mauve Glass Chandelier, Italy 1960s
By Paolo Venini, Paolo Caliari
Located in Naples, IT
Rare hanging lamp by Paolo Caliari for Paolo Venini. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1960s. A striking Venini pendant with brass frame and a mauve murano glass outer s...
Brass
Puntini Murrine Glass Bowl, Paolo Venini, Venini Murano Italia
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Uccle, BE
Bowl in glass with “talpa” (mole grey) and “lattimo” (milk white) murrine. The name of this particular murrine is known as “a puntini” which means “dotted” in Italian. It’s in fac...
Blown Glass
Pallotta Table Lamp by Paolo Venini and Massimo Pistilli for Venini, 1960
By Massimo Pistilli, Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Lampada da tavolo modello “Pallotta”, progettata da Paolo Venini e Massimo Pistilli per Venini intorno al 1960. Realizzata in vetro soffiato, l’opera riflette la maestria artigianale...
Steel
VENINI "Filigrana " Chandelier Murano Glass Metal Crome 1930 Italy
By Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Exceptional filigree ball chandelier VENINI 1930s Height 105. Only the bowl 35cm.
Murano Glass
VENINI "Filigrana " Chandelier Murano Glass Metal Crome 1930 Italy
By Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Exceptional filigree ball chandelier VENINI 1930s Height 105. Only the bowl 35cm.
Murano Glass
Paolo VENINI - Lampadario mezza filigrana - MURANO 1970
By Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Paolo VENINI - Lampadario di grande qualità come tutte le cose di VENINI fatte a MURANO, Made in ITALY. Il lampadario e in ottimo stato di conservazione, funzionante .
Metal, Metallic Thread
Venini Chandelier “FILIGRANA“ Murano Glass Crome Italia, 1930
By Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Venini chandelier “FILIGRANA“ Murano glass crome Italia, 1930.
Murano Glass
Venini Chandelier “FILIGRANA“ Murano Glass Crome Italia, 1930
By Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Venini chandelier “FILIGRANA“ Murano glass crome Italia, 1930.
Murano Glass
Boletus Large Table Lamp in Blown and Engraved Glass by Paolo Venini, Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Uccle, BE
About the "Boletus" large table lamp by Paolo Venini, Venini Murano (Italy) Large table lamp in hand-blown pink glass. The entire body of the lamp is engraved with fine lines which...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$2,100 / set
Venini Glass Murano Glass, 1940, Italy
By Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Glass Paolo Venini.
Murano Glass
Venini “Filigrana“ Chandelier Murano Glass Brass Metal, 1930, Italy
By Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Chandelier VENINI Filigrana
Murano Glass
Paolo Venini Frosted Murano Art Glass Vase Manufactured by Venini Italy 1997
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Miami, FL
A heavy black and white Murano art glass vase designed by Artist Paolo Venini. Frosted Murano glass on the outside and in lined with black Murano glass. Signed and dated, MURANO MADE...
Murano Glass
Important Venini Table Lamp in Red, Form "Diamante", Murano by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Halle, DE
A beautiful and important early 20th century Murano desk lamp in rare red colored "diamante"-form glas by Venini. The Diamante serie was invented c...
Brass
Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Sapphire Cipria Pink Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in amber murano glass by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so real, like time ticking away. In 1...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Grey Murano Glass
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Amber Murano Glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15t...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Acquamarine Murano Glass
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in Horizon Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the ...
Murano Glass
Large Murano Crackle Glass Vase With Fused Faceted Glass Block Base
By Paolo Venini
Located in Roma, RM
This large unique Murano glass vase was made using the "Ghiachciato" technique, that gives the surface of the glass an irregular crackled appearance. The effect is created by submerg...
Murano Glass
$1,840Sale Price|20% Off
Paolo Venini Spherical Murano Glass and Brass Pendant Light
By Paolo Venini
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
This Italian Vintage Murano Glass Pendant Light is a beautiful example of mid-century modern design from the 1960s. Murano glass is known for its high quality and intricate handcraft...
Brass
Five Turqoise Opalino Bowls by Paolo Venini, Murano circa 1950
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in London, GB
Five small turquoise opaline hand blown bowls by Paolo Venini (1895-1959) circa 1950 for Venini, opaque glass, acid stamp to each 'Venini Murano Italia'. Dimensons; each height 1 1/...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
Paolo Venini Mushroom Table Lamp, Murano Glass, Mid-Century Italy
By Paolo Venini
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Beutifull Mushroom-shaped table lamp, Murano glass by Paolo Venini 1970s.
Murano Glass
Rare Clear Moulded Glass Mirror by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare clear moulded glass mirror by Paolo Venini Italy: circa 1950. Provenance: From a Thad Hayes-designed 15 central park west private residence. Literature: Deboni, Venini Glass, It...
Glass
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
Venini Murano Glass Spherical Vase, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 1970s
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Signed Venini vase A true testament to Italian craftsmanship. Handblown by skilled artisans, this unique piece features a mesmerizing blend of earthy tones, deep blues, and vibrant ...
Murano Glass
Pair of Hourglasses by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini
By Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Busnago, IT
Pair of Acquamarina and Grigio murano glass hourglasses by Paolo Venini & Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini. A large one and a small one. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticea...
Glass
Venini Bottle with Stopper
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in New York, NY
Venini glass bottle with stopper in composite glass with finely wheel-engraved finish of delicate creases, incised on bottom "Venini Italia". P...
Glass
Wall lamp by Paolo Venini, around 1955
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Berlin, DE
Italian designer Paolo Venini created this extraordinary wall lamp. It is made of hand-blown reticello glass. It is attached by a central band of transparent hand-blown red glass. Th...
Brass
Vintage Paolo Venini Wall Lights, Murano Glass, Mid-Century, 1970s
By Paolo Venini, Murano 5
Located in Beirut, LB
A vintage pair of vintage wall lights or sconces produced in 1970s by Venini, in bi color Murano: light yellow crystal and clear crystal pr...
Murano Glass
Venini 12" Sommerso Inciso Blue / Amber Lamp, Three Line Acid Etched
By Paolo Venini
Located in Doraville, GA
A beautiful shaded lamp by Paolo Venini for Venini from the mid 1950's. The lamp is "sommerso" which in English literally means "submerged". This technique is used to create several layers of glass (usually with different contrasting colors) inside a single object. This bottle appears to be clear glass incased in blue / amber glass. The surface of the lamp base is "inciso" which in English means engraved or incised, this process is done by hand on a grinding wheel...
Murano Glass
Mid-Century Modern Hendcrafted Venini Glass Sconce by Toni Zuccheri, Italy, 1960
By Paolo Venini
Located in Madrid, ES
Handmade transparent Venini glass wall lamp with lacquered metal structure. The lamp consists of 10 individual pentagonal prisms glass units and metal details. Toni Zuccheri (1936–2...
Metal
Table Lamp by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini
Located in MADRID, ES
Dante Swirl table lamp by Paolo Venini. With brass base and Murano glass sphere. Italy, 1970s. Height: 45cm Base diameter: 25cm Sphere diameter: 35cm Paolo Venini (1895-1959) was ...
Brass
Venini Zanfirico Flared Vase, Mid-Century Modern Art Glass, Italy
By Paolo Venini
Located in London, England
This stunning flared vase showcases the intricate Venetian Zanfirico technique with elegance. Its delicately swirling patterns and meticulous craftsmanship make it a captivating piec...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
21st Century Bottiglie Incise Glass Bottle in Bronze Color by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in murano, IT
A multitude of shapes and colors. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity of...
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Vase by Paolo Venini, Cased Glass, Italy, 1950s
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Roma, IT
Very rare vase designed by Paolo Venini in cased glass, white and glossy, a must for Murano glass collectors. The item also displays a circular trademark "Venini Murano, Italy". Th...
Glass
$1,225
Venini Purple Vase
By Paolo Venini
Located in Collonge-Bellerive, GE
This stunning purple vase by renowned Italian designer Paolo Venini exemplifies the mastery of Murano glassmaking, a tradition upheld by the Venini brand s...
Blown Glass
21st Century Incisi Glass Vase in Sourgreen by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in murano, IT
A multitude of shapes and colours. Apparently, Paolo Venini had a knack for experimenting with Incisi. They are countless. The vase owes its name to the "Incisione a Freddo" glassmak...
Glass
21st Century Clessidra Hourglass in Grape/Light Pink by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in murano, IT
Clessidra 420.10 Ø14 H30 UV/RS Additional Information: Material: Glass Color: Grape/Light Pink Dimensions: Ø 14 x H 30 cm Available in other color options: Amber/light pink.
Glass
Sputnik flowers in chrome metal and glass by Paolo Venini for 1960s
By Paolo Venini
Located in Palermo, IT
This extraordinary 1960s chandelier is a masterpiece by Paolo Venini, an emblem of Murano glass excellence applied to Mid-Century design. The central chrome-plated metal frame accomm...
Metal
Paolo Venini, Pendant, Italy 1950s
By Paolo Venini
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pendant in Murano glass, by Paolo Venini, Italy 1950s. Total height 100 cm.
Glass
$552Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage-Wandleuchte Blatt von Tomaso Buzzi für Venini 1930er Jahre
By Paolo Venini
Located in Aachen, DE
Transparentes Glas mit Goldflitter-Einschmelzungen, diagonal gerippt und innenseitig sandartige raue Oberfläche, unbeschädigt, Höhe 43cm. Ausgestattet mit funktionierendem Zugschal...
Art Glass