Vintage Venini Pair of Crystal Murano Glass Vases with Black and White Murrine
About the Item
- Creator:Venini (Workshop/Studio)
- Dimensions:Height: 9.25 in (23.5 cm)Diameter: 10.5 in (26.67 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:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Dona Modern Art Murano Glass Sapphire Blue Sculpture Vase with Red White MurrineBy Davide DonaLocated in New York, NYMonumental Italian Art glass vase, one of a kind Work of Art by Davide Donà, signed piece in blown Murano glass. The aquamarine body tinted with blue reflections is skillfully embrac...Category
2010s Italian Organic Modern Vases
MaterialsBlown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine, Art Glass
- Modern Monumental Blue White Yellow Green Orange Murrine Huge Murano Glass VaseLocated in New York, NYA striking huge Murano glass vase, impressive in size, a Work of Art in blown overlaid Murano glass worked like a modern painting with a sophisticated extensive swirling organic deco...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsBlown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
- Cenedese Italian Modern Pair of Iridescent Black Gold Crystal Murano Glass VasesBy CenedeseLocated in New York, NYA superb unique pair of glowing iridescent black and gold murano glass vases of very modern execution, the blown glass body with an attractive and delicate craftmanship in black colo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
- Formia Italian 1970s Vintage White Crystal Clear Murano Glass Tall Flared VaseBy Formia MuranoLocated in New York, NYVintage Italian design monumental vase, tall and slender with flared tops decorated with colored border ad incalmo, in white, high quality of execution with heavy overlaid bottom, in...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsBlown Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
- Cenedese Italian Pair of Tall Modern Iridescent Gold Crystal Murano Glass VasesBy Cosulich Interiors & Antiques, CenedeseLocated in New York, NYStunning high-quality Murano glass vases, the body decorated with a post-modern decor, wrapped in iridescent crystal clear glass threads, freely hand applied in a delicate raised pat...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Organic Modern Vases
MaterialsGold
- Costantini Italian Pair of Sculpture Iridescent Black Murano Glass Round VasesBy Flavio CostantiniLocated in New York, NYA very organic pair of magnificent round vases in blown Murano glass, late 20th century, signed by Costantini, the deep black body worked with an extensive and sophisticated iridesce...Category
1990s Italian Organic Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
- Set of Fratelli Toso Venini Murano Murrina Lattimo Blue & Black Glass Ball VasesBy Venini, Fratelli TosoLocated in Barcelona, ESSet of two Round Shaped Murano Glass Vases, Italy, 1940s-1960s. The small one is a ball shaped hand blown lattimo blue Murano glass vase attributed to Fratelli Toso for Venini, Ital...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass, Murrine, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Milk Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
- Venini Fulvio Bianconi Murano Gray Opalino Italian Art Glass Sculptural VaseBy Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Paolo VeniniLocated in Kissimmee, FLBeautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown blue gray, opaline Italian art glass handkerchief sculptural vase. Documented to designer Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. The piece is...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Centerpieces
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
- Venini Fulvio Bianconi Murano Pink Incamiciato Italian Art Glass Fazzoletto VaseBy Venini, Fulvio BianconiLocated in Kissimmee, FLGorgeous and very large, vintage Murano hand blown pink, opaline white and gold flecks Italian art glass sculptural handkerchief Fazzoletto flower vase. Documented to designer Fulvio...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGold Leaf
- Murano Black White Stripes Italian Art Glass Sculptural Fazzoletto Flower VaseBy Dino Martens, VeniniLocated in Kissimmee, FLBeautiful and large, vintage Murano hand blown white and black Italian art glass fazzoletto flower vase. Created in the manner of Dino Martens and the Venini company. The vase has ba...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
- Murano Opalescent Chalcedony Millefiori Flower Murrines Italian Art Glass VaseBy Aldo Nason, Fornasa De Murano A L'Insegna Del Moreto, Galliano FerroLocated in Kissimmee, FLBeautiful and large, vintage Murano hand blown opalescent orange, and murrines Italian art glass flower vase. The vase is covered with layers of silver leaf, that triggers a chemical...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass, Opaline Glass, Murrine, Murano Glass, Blown Glass
- Fratelli Toso Murano Purple White Ribbons Italian Art Glass Fazzoletto VaseBy Fratelli Toso, VeniniLocated in Kissimmee, FLBeautiful, and large, vintage Murano hand blown soft grayish lavender purple and white Zanfirico ribbons Italian art glass sculptural handkerchief / fazzoletto flower vase. Documente...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsGlass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass