Large Venini Italian Art Glass "Fazzoletto" Handkerchief Vase by Fulvio Bianconi
About the Item
- Creator:Andromeda Murano (Maker),Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 12.5 in (31.75 cm)Width: 14 in (35.56 cm)Depth: 14 in (35.56 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Toledo, OH
- Reference Number:
Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini
Glassware designer Paolo Venini’s best creations are thought to be his two-color Clessidre hourglasses, produced from 1957 onward, and the Fazzoletto (“handkerchief”) vase, designed with Fulvio Bianconi in 1949.
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.
For a range of work that includes everything from illustrating thousands of books and other publications to his role as a visionary glassmaker, Bianconi is remembered as one of the most innovative cross-disciplinarian artists of the postwar era. He was an apprentice decorator in his youth at the Murano glass furnaces, where he first discovered the art of glassmaking.
Following the war, Bianconi went to work designing perfume bottles for the Milan perfume house Giviemme at Venini, where he worked with glass masters Ermete and Arturo Biassuto. Bianconi became one of Venini’s most influential glass designers — and was appointed artistic director following Carlo Scarpa — known for his bold use of color, modern style and unique, playful designs.
Among Bianconi's most iconic works in glass are the series of glass figures from the Commedia dell’Arte, his remarkably fluid bowls, and the patchwork “Pezzato” technique — his colorful vases created with this technique feature patterns that resemble those of a patchwork quilt. Works made in this fashion caused a sensation at the 25th Venice Biennale in 1950. Bianconi worked with several other glass studios, including Cenedese in 1954 and Vistosi in 1963, creating decorative vessels, bowls, hourglasses and sculptures.
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).
Bianconi’s glassworks are held in museum collections worldwide, including London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.
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.
Find antique Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi serveware, vases and other decorative objects on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Toledo, OH
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Archimede Seguso Murano Italian Glass VaseBy Archimede SegusoLocated in Toledo, OHArchimede Seguso Murano Italian Glass Vase. Gold glass with blue center. Original stickers, Made in Italy. Excellent condition. Not signed. Dim...Category
20th Century Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Kew Blas Gold Art Glass Trumpet VaseLocated in Toledo, OHKew Blas iradized gold art glass trumpet vase 12". No chips or damage. Dimensions: 3.38" diameter x 12" H.Category
20th Century North American Art Nouveau Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Caleb Siemon Art Glass Murano Style VaseLocated in Toledo, OHCaleb Siemon Murano style art glass vase in white, cream and clear glass. Very nice condition. Dimensions: 5" diameter x 18.5" H.Category
20th Century Unknown Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Orient & Flume Floral Umber Art Glass Vase Dave Small HouseBy Orient & FlumeLocated in Toledo, OHFloral design art glass vase by Orient & Flume. Large flowers around the center in shades of white and grey on a deep salmon tone field with branches and stem details. Create by Dave...Category
20th Century North American Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Austrian Loetz Iridescent Art Nouveau Glass Vase Sterling OverlayBy Loetz GlassLocated in Toledo, OHAustrian Loetz iridescent art glass vase in papillon finish with sterling silver applied overlay. Art Nouveau style in a dimpled form shades of green ...Category
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Mid-Century Monmouth Pottery Large Floor VaseBy Monmouth PotteryLocated in Toledo, OHA Mid-Century Monmouth Pottery floor vase, circa 1950. A large form monochromatic glazed pottery vase with ribbed detail in a grey/green shade. Very good condition. Dimensions: 8.5" ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsPottery
- Fazzoletto by Fulvio Bianconi – Handkerchief vase – Venini MuranoBy Fulvio BianconiLocated in Brussels, BEFazzoletto vase (Handkerchief vase) by Fulbio Bianconi. Fazzoletto vase in Incimiciato lattimo and amber glass. Lattimo is the term used in italian langage to describe this milk colo...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass, Blown Glass
- Venini Fazzoletto Large Glass Vase in Gray by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo VeniniBy Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, VeniniLocated in Brooklyn, NYFazzoletto glass vase, designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini and manufactured by Venini, is available in three different sizes. Original designed in 1948. Indoor use only. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Fazzoletto Glass Vase in Red by Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo VeniniBy Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, VeniniLocated in Brooklyn, NYVenini glass vase with pinched rim in red designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini in 1948. Perfect for indoor home decor as container, vide-poche or statement piece for any room...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass
- Fazzoletto Glass Vase in Aquamarine by Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo VeniniBy Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, VeniniLocated in Brooklyn, NYVenini glass vase with pinched rim in aquamarine and mint designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini in 1948. Perfect for indoor home decor as container, vide-poche or statement pi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass
- Venini Fazzoletto Large Vase in Milk White by Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo VeniniBy Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, VeniniLocated in Brooklyn, NYFazzoletto glass vase, designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini and manufactured by Venini, is available in three different sizes. Original designed in 1948. Indoor use only. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass
- Fazzoletto Glass Vase in Apple Green by Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo VeniniBy Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, VeniniLocated in Brooklyn, NYVenini glass vase with pinched rim in apple green designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini in 1948. Perfect for indoor home decor as container, vide-poche or statement piece for ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass