Paolo Venini Pair of Opalino Vases for Venini in Light Grey, Italy 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Venini (Manufacturer),Paolo Venini (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 20.48 in (52 cm)Diameter: 7.49 in (19 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Milan, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU952732386802
Paolo Venini
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
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Milan, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Gio Ponti and Paolo Venini A Canne Morandiane Series Glass for Venini, 1955By Gio Ponti, Paolo VeniniLocated in Milan, ITLarge Gio Ponti and Paolo Venini A Canne Morandiane series murano glass for Venini, 1955 Signed with three-line acid stamp to underside 'Venini Murano ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Splendid Pair of Murano Figurines, Italy 1950sBy Venini, Fulvio BianconiLocated in Milan, ITSplendid pair of Murano Figurines, Italy, 1950s.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Fulvio Bianconi "Fazzoletto" Vase for VeniniBy Fulvio Bianconi, VeniniLocated in Milan, ITFulvio Bianconi "Fazzoletto" vase for Venini. Iridescent turquoise and sang-de-boeuf glass.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
- Ercole Barovier Corniola Glass Vase for Barovier & Toso, Italy 1952By Barovier&Toso, Ercole BarovierLocated in Milan, ITErcole Barovier Corniola Murano Glass vase for Barovier & Toso, Italy 1952 Original Label.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Flavio Poli Valva Vase Model 9826 for Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Italy 1954By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio PoliLocated in Milan, ITRare Flavio Poli Valva vase Model 9826 for Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Italy 1954 Reference: Seguso Vetri d'Arte / M. Heiremans.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Carlo Scarpa Poliedri Ceiling Lamp for Venini in Yellow and Grey, Italy 1950sBy Carlo Scarpa, VeniniLocated in Milan, ITCarlo Scarpa Murano Glass Poliedri ceiling lamp for Venini in yellow and Grey, Italy 1950s.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Large Vase of the 'Pesanti' Series, Paolo Venini for Venini, Murano 1952By Venini, Paolo VeniniLocated in Berghuelen, DEA large vase in thick amethyst glass with circular decoration on the neck. Designed by Paolo Venini in 1952, manufactured by Venini, Murano Venezia. Model number 1522. Acid stamp "ve...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass, Murano Glass
- 20th Century Italian Vase by Paolo VeniniBy Venini, Paolo VeniniLocated in Roma, ITVery 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...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- 1950s Paolo Venini Inciso VaseLocated in Water Mill, NYMid-Century Paolo Venini Inciso tall vase.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
- Venini Incisi Short Glass Vase in Steel Blue by Paolo VeniniBy Paolo Venini, VeniniLocated in Brooklyn, NYIncisi glass vase collection, designed by Paolo Venini and manufactured by Venini, feature an engraved surface. Originally designed in 1956. Numb...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Venini Opalino Large Grey Milk White Inside Glass VaseBy VeniniLocated in Brooklyn, NYSatin glass vase, designed and manufactured by Venini, features the same shape of the iconic opalino vase with a frosted finish. Indoor use only. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Venini Art Glass Vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956By Paolo Venini, VeniniLocated in Berghuelen, DEVenini Art Glass vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956 A vintage art glass vase in erba pesante (grass green) glass with layered...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass, Art Glass