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.
While the company’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.
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 Venini chandeliers, serveware, table lamps, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Peill & Putzler Vintage Glass Ice Bucket Geometric Design 1970's Barware
By Peill & Putzler
Located in North Miami, FL
This wonderful and geometric incised raised and textural organic sculptural molded form glass small ice bucket or vessel or container is by Peill and ...
Glass
Vintage Murano Geode Glass Bowl by Alessandro Mandruzzato Italy 70's Blue, Green
By Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in North Miami, FL
This gorgeous gem of an Italian hand blown vintage Murano bowl by Alessandro Mandruzzato is diamond faceted surround in Sommerso colors in geode form. The flat top is polished and the shape is oval. These are sometimes called caviar bowls for serving this delicacy. The flat cut polished top and the geode form make this glistening glass bowl reflect and refract light and change color. The colors of light blue to dark blue to sea light green are a spectacular play against each other. It is jewel like color and light. It is from the 1970s. It is both for serving and or just glass sculptural object bowl form. This is a real beauty and unusual color palette for these types of special Murano geode...
Blown Glass
Italian Murano Glass Pitcher Signed, Turquoise, Red, Pink, Green Stripes 1980's
Located in North Miami, FL
This jewel toned luscious vintage signed italian Murano glass pitcher is a beauty of stripes of turquoise, green, red, pink, purple and clear. It is signed something like Starzii. It...
Blown Glass
Vintage Murano Teal Emerald Green Glass Square Bowl with Bullecante Bubbles 60's
Located in North Miami, FL
This rich color of teal emerald green Italian murano vintage glass square bowl has lots of bubbles inclusive as the technique called Bullecante. It i...
Blown Glass
Vintage Seeguso Vetri D' Arte Murano Cased Pulegoso Glass Bowl, Turquoise, Gold
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in North Miami, FL
This beautiful and special rare Italian vintage Murano glass bowl has it all going on. It is the work of Seguso. It has several different techniques in one; one is the Pulegoso. The ...
Glass
Barovier e Toso Murano Glass Bowl, Cordonato D' Oro Sea Mist Turquoise, Gold
By Barovier&Toso
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning and magnificent color of sea mist turquoise and gold in this vintage Murano Italian Mid-Century Modern bowl is by the maestros; Barovier e Toso. It is of the Cordonato d' Oro technique where twisted ropes of gold are applied in each section of glass. From the 50's. This can be used for serving or just as a beautiful Murano object. Very rich looking and a gorgeous color. This is a very desirable color palette and a very special Murano vintage bowl...
Gold
Murano Venini Venetian Ice Bucket Blue and White Art Glass 1980s
By Venini
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1980s Vintage Venini Murano Light Blue White and Clear crystal Wine Cooler Ice Bucket Made in Italy. handcrafted Italian Murano Venini venetian art glass ice bucket . This is a delicate blown Murano crystal blown glass ice bucket. It has a flared shape from the base to the rim. It is a light sea blue color glass with white vertical lines and many small bubbles in the glass, the imperfection in the glass is due to the handcrafted blown glass. Vintage hand blown Venini Murano martini...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Italian Murano Venini Art Glass Ice Bucket in Blue/White and hand blown Handles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful hand-blown blue glass ice bucket from Murano by Venini, featuring crisp white stripes and applied side handles. Though modest in scale, it offers striking presence — perf...
Murano Glass
1970s Vintage Italian Murano Venini Venetian Art Glass Ice Bucket Blue and White
By Murano Glass Sommerso, Venini
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1970s Vintage Venini Murano Light Blue White Clear Wine Cooler Ice Bucket Made in Italy. handcrafted Italian Murano Venini venetian art glass ice bucket . This is a delicate blown Murano art glass ice bucket. It has a flared shape from the base to the rim. It is a light sea blue color glass with white vertical lines and many small bubbles in the glass, the imperfection in the glass is due to the handcrafted blown glass. Vintage hand blown Venini Murano martini ice cube glass container in light blue, white and transparent wine cooler, ice bucket Hand-made in Italy 1970-80. No Hallmark no signature. Italian Murano art glass ice bucket. Measures from handle to handle: 6.5 inches. Diameter Top is 5.5 inches. Dimensions: Height: 5 in (12.7 cm)Width: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Depth: 5.5 in (13.97 cm). Add a beautiful touch of Italian Mediterranean art...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage Venini Murano Light Blue White & Clear Wine Cooler Ice Bucket Italy 1970
By Venini
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Venini Murano martini ice cube container in light blue, white & transparent wine cooler, ice bucket made in Italy 1970. No Makers Logo, Venini ...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Venini for Disaronno Blue and White Fused Glass Ice Bucket, Murano Italy
By Venini
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Modernist vintage ice bucket has abstract geometric decor of fused white glass on transparent blue colored glass with controlled bubbles effect. The piece has two small rounded hand...
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Glass
Art Deco Blue Glass Ice Bucket
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Art Deco Blue Glass Ice Bucket in a swirled pattern with chrome handle and ice tongs.
Chrome
