"Murrine" Glass Sculpture by Venini, Italy, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Venini (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 3.55 in (9 cm)Width: 5.91 in (15 cm)Depth: 0.52 in (1.3 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1955
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Milan, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU94511840582
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 in the centuries-old glass workshops on the Venetian island of Murano. While the company’s 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 Giò Ponti, Massimo Vignelli, Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, Thomas Stearnsof 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 took over the company as his own in 1925, and under his direction it produced mainly classical Baroque designs. In 1932, he 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 century — Venini has produced one of the truly great bodies of work in modern design.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Milan, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Glass Sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, Italy, 1960sBy Venini, Fulvio BianconiLocated in Milan, ITGlass sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini. Colored glass block used as sample to compose screens, large windows or as single sculptures...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Sculptures
MaterialsGlass
- Ceramic Sculpture by Renato Bassoli, Italy, 1950sBy Renato BassoliLocated in Milan, ITBeautiful ceramic sculpture by Renato Bassoli. Biographic notes: He was born in Milan, where from 1937 to 1948 he attended the Brera Academy and the "Scuola del Castello", interrupted only by the war ainprisonment in Germany. Before concentrating entirely on ceramics, sculptures and the creation of jewels, he worked as a graphic designer and a set designer. In 1950 he began exhibiting at the Triennal of Milan, the Faenza Ceramics...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Sculptures
MaterialsCeramic
- Rare "Inciso" Murano Glass Bowl by Paolo Venini for Venini, Italy, 1950sBy Venini, Paolo VeniniLocated in Milan, ITMarvellous "Inciso" bowl by Paolo Venini for Venini. Signed with three-line acid stamp to underside: Venini Murano Italia. Another piece available from the same "Inciso" collection.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Decorative Bowls
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Set of Three "Fazzoletto" Murano Glass Vases by Venini, Italy, 1950sBy VeniniLocated in Milan, ITAmazing set of three Fazzoletto vases by Venini. Size refers to the biggest piece.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- "Vetrate Grossa" Glass Sculpture by Gio Ponti, Italy, 1960sBy Venini, Gio PontiLocated in Milan, IT"Vetrata Grossa" glass sculpture by Gio Ponti for Venini. Colored glass block used as sample to compose screens, large windows or as single sculpture...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Sculptures
MaterialsMetal
- "N" "E" "O" "N" Crystal Letters by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, Italy, 1980sBy Massimo Vignelli, VeniniLocated in Milan, ITN, E, O, N crystal and colored capital letters by Massimo Vignelli for Venini. Complete display set for Neon collection.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Tobia Scarpa for Venini Murano Blown Glass Midcentury "Occhi" Murrine VaseBy Tobia Scarpa, VeniniLocated in Brussels, BEA beautiful "occhi" brown and clear Murano Murrine glass vase. Murrine is the name given to these pieces, the name comes from the technique used. The technique consists of an arrangement of transparent glass pieces with a brown strapping, these pieces are then melted to give shape when the material is melted. Tobia Scarpa is the son of Carlo Scarpa, he worked at the Venini and reinterpreted forms and techniques developed by his father before the war...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
MaterialsArt Glass, Murano Glass
- Venini Fischione Glass Bird Sculpture by Toni ZuccheriBy Venini, Toni ZuccheriLocated in Brooklyn, NYFischione glass sculpture, designed by Toni Zuccheri and manufactured by Venini, was originally designed in 1980. Numbered edition per year. Indoor use only. Dimensions: W 38 cm,...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsGlass
- Venini Glass Pumpkin Sculptures by Napoleone Martinuzzi, 1920'sBy Venini, Napoleone MartinuzziLocated in London, GBTwo Pumpkin Sculptures by Napoleone Martinuzzi circa 1928 for V.S.M. Venini & Co., blown glass applied with pasta glass with gold foil applications ...Category
Vintage 1920s Italian Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsArt Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
- 1950s Italian Modernist Green Glass Fish SculptureLocated in Palm Springs, CAStriking Murano fish glass glass sculpture, circa 1950s. Piece measures 5.25" high by 6" wide by 1.5" deep. Unsigned and in very good vintage condition.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsMurano Glass
- 1960s Tapio Wirkkala for Venini Art Glass Egg Sculpture ItalyBy Tapio Wirkkala, VeniniLocated in Chula Vista, CAglass art egg designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Venini. Includes original mounting stand. Signed on the bottom from Italy 2.75 tall x 2diameter, Base .25H x 1.5in diameter. Original v...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsGold
- Venini Tall Gourd Sculpture, Italy 1970sBy VeniniLocated in Lambertville, NJRare and unique Venini large gourd in emerald green, Italy 1970s.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMurano Glass