The work of renowned glass artist Alessandro Pianon — which includes his lighthearted “Pulcini” birds as well as the other Pianon glass birds, with their bulbous forms and lanky legs of textured patinated copper — is very popular with lovers of art glass.
Venice has long been a manufacturing center for exquisite art glass, and since as early as the 8th century, legions of expert glassmakers have been honing their skills there.
The glass components of eminently collectible chandeliers, sconces, table lamps and other objects and fixtures are hand-blown in the region by a master of Murano glass, named for the Italian island of Murano, where glassmaking has been practiced for hundreds of years, using a variety of artisanal processes. Pianon was a product of the region’s rich glassmaking tradition.
Born in Venice, Pianon studied at the Architecture School in Venice to become an architect and designer. Prolific glass manufacturer Vetreria Vistosi hired Pianon in 1956 to design the company logo.
The history of Vistosi and its extraordinary lighting and decorative objects reaches as far back as 1640, when the Gazzabin family of Murano opened a furnace for producing Murano glass art. "Vistoso," which was originally a nickname, became part of the family's surname, and eventually the name “Vistosi” was used to refer to the family’s glass creations.
Pleased with his work, the manufacturer retained Pianon as a designer. At Vistosi, Pianon developed his glassblowing techniques and designed a series of collections for the company (the maker’s “Pulcini” bird sculptures are particularly well-known). He perfected his unique style during the mid-century era, producing pendant lamps and chandeliers of all different kinds, whimsical bird sculptures in vibrant colors that feature richly textured surfaces, and other objects and furnishings.
Pianon established his own studio in 1962. And while he created a range of decor and lighting for Vistosi, Candle, Lumenform and other makers over the course of his career, Pianon's playful glass birds, which introduce cheeriness and striking pops of color into any interior, are his most sought-after designs.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Alessandro Pianon lighting and decorative objects.
Alessandro Pianon Pulcini Glass Bird
By Alessandro Pianon
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An Orange Pulcini Bird Designed by Alessandro Pianon and manufactured by Vistosi c. 1963o Smooth surface with copper legs. Minor carbon black spot, whi...
Art Glass
Alessandro Pianon Pulcino' bird Execution Vetreria Vistosi 1962
By Alessandro Pianon
Located in Vigevano, PV
Spherical shape. H: 23cm. Execution: Vetreria Vistosi. Glass, colorless and orange with fused crushed glass, applied murrine as eyes; feet made of bent copper wire. Literature: Cf. M...
Murano Glass
Alessandro Pianon Pulcini Bird Sculpture Vistosi Murano Mid Century Modern Italy
By Alessandro Pianon, Vistosi
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Iconic, rare mid century modern masterpeice Alessandro Pianon Pulcini bird sculpture designed by Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi Murano c...
Copper
Alessandro Pianon Bird (pulcino) for Vistosi
By Vistosi, Alessandro Pianon
Located in Brussels, BE
Great Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi Murano art glass bird. Iconic design. Fine and good condition, free of any chips, cracks, or repairs "Pulcini" Bird (c.1963)
Art Glass
$13,600Sale Price / item|20% Off
Mid Century Modern Art Glass Pulcino Bird by, Alessandro Pianon for VIstosi
By Alessandro Pianon, Vistosi
Located in Englewood, NJ
An iconic and rare Italian Mid-Century Modern art glass "Pulcino" bird designed by, Alessandro Pianon for Vetreria Vistosi. The pulcino is on raised copper feet and decorated with ap...
Copper
Alessandro Pianon ‘Pulcino’ for Vistosi, 1962
By Vistosi, Alessandro Pianon
Located in Sittard, LI
This Pulcino bird was designed by Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi in 1962. Hand-blown in bright orange-red Murano glass and set on hammered copper legs, it ...
Copper
$1,450
H 12 in W 9 in D 9 in
Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Art Glass Fish Sculpture by Licio Zanetti
By Licio Zanetti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An abstract Murano glass sculpture of a fish by Licio Zanetti for Zanetti Vetreria Artistica. The clear glass fish is twisted as if jumping through the air and mounted on a stylized ...
Art Glass
Vintage Murano Art Glass Black Bird Mid-Century Modern, 1960's
By Barovier
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Beautiful mid-century modern Murano glass black bird in wonderful vintage condition. Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Bird in the Manner of Barovier. Beautiful Murano hand blown black Italian art glass bird dove figurine...
Blown Glass
$743Sale Price|34% Off
H 4.73 in W 2.56 in D 4.53 in
Oiva Toikka, Sieppo, Bird, Nuutajarvi / Iittala, 1990s
By Nuutajärvi Notsjõ, Iittala, Oiva Toikka
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
Product Description: On offer here is a reprinted version of Sieppo with legs, manufactured in 1995 by Oiva Toikka. The early footed Sieppo was created in many color variations, bu...
Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
$200 / set
H 4.25 in W 7.5 in D 2.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Amber Resin Bird Sculpture by Dorothy Thorpe 1970s
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
This is an Amber resin bird sculpture, specifically doves, by Dorothy Thorpe made circa the 1970s. The sculpture is perfectly translucent which makes the birds glow in the light!
Resin
Alessandro Albrizzi "Nest of Snakes" Sculpture
By Alessandro Albrizzi
Located in New York, NY
Baron Alessandro Albrizzi grew up in, and later inherited, the family palazzo in Venice, where the French doors that opened onto the garden had hardware embellished with bronze snakes. The memory of them prompted him to create the“nest of snakes” sculptures...
Metal
Pair of Venetian/Murano Barbini Turquoise Exotic Bird Sculptures
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This is a matched pair of hand blown, tall and fanciful Murano "Birds Of Paradise" or Exotic Birds which stand a rare 16 1/2" tall! Cased with clear crystal over a fabulous color com...
Crystal
Bird Sculpture
Located in Antwerp, BE
Brass bird sculpture. Measures: Width 42 cm. Height 20 cm. Depth 18 cm. Weight 2 kg.
Brass
$1,322
H 25.2 in W 17.72 in D 7.09 in
Spiritello Sculpture Prototype by Alessandro Guerriero for Alchimia, Italy
By Alessandro Guerriero, Gruppo Alchimia
Located in Milan, Italy
"Spiritello" plexiglass sculpture designed by Alessandro Guerriero for Alchimia, circa 1990. Signed Alchimia, A. Guerriero. Biography In 1976 Alessandro and Adriana Guerriero establ...
Plexiglass
$601
H 13 in W 13.39 in D 3.55 in
1970s Barovier Style Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Bird Italian Sculpture
By Barovier
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A murano glass sculpture of a bird hand-crafted in Italy in the Seventies, colors, the gold inside the glass and style are in the manner of Barovier. This Murano Glass Bird is an ex...
Murano Glass
$22,546
H 19.3 in Dm 11.03 in
Soldato Di Vetro Glass and 18k Gold Sculpture by Alessandro Mendini for Venini
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in murano, IT
"The fine, elongated and ambiguos shape of their eyes on the colored background has them looking thoughtfully at our complicated world. The similar shape of their mounth hints at a w...
Gold
Venetian Murano Italian Barovier & Toso Art Glass Pheasant Bird Sculpture
By Vintage Murano Gallery, Barovier&Toso
Located in San Diego, CA
Exquisite Venetian Murano Barovier & Toso Italian art glass gold fleck hand blown figural pheasant bird sculpture figure. Great form and color. Has gold fleck throughout the head and...
Art Glass
$420
H 8.86 in W 5.91 in D 3.15 in
Striped Murano Glass Bird Sculpture, Mid Century Murano Glass Art, IT ca. 1970
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Lovely Murano glass bird sculpture from the 1970s in Italy, attributed to Fratelli Toso. Handcrafted by the highly skilled Italian glass artists on the little island of Murano nearby...
Murano Glass
Alessandro Pianon Bird "Pulcino" for Vistosi
By Alessandro Pianon
Located in Lynn, MA
Iconic and important Italian glass design by Alessandro Pianon. Grayish/Green blown glass mounted on copper legs. Part of a series of five different “species,” each bird in the coll...
Copper
Alessandro Pianon Bird "Pulcino" for Vistosi
By Alessandro Pianon
Located in Lynn, MA
Iconic and important Italian glass design by Alessandro Pianon. Orange blown glass mounted on copper legs. Part of a series of five different “species,” each bird in the collection h...
Copper
Set of five Pulcini glass birds by Alessandro Pianon
By Alessandro Pianon, Vistosi
Located in Uccle, BE
Rare set of five blown glass birds resting on their hammered copper legs. These are the models designed by Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi in Murano, in 1962. The first bird (far lef...
Blown Glass
Pulcino par Alessandro Pianon
By Vistosi, Alessandro Pianon
Located in Uccle, BE
Sculpture of a bird in blown glass with murrine decoration, resting on hammered copper legs. Designed in 1962 by Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi, Murano (Italy). This green glass bird...
Blown Glass
Alessandro Pianon ' Pulcini ' Murano Bird Sculpture
By Alessandro Pianon, Vistosi
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Alessandro Pianon ' Pulcini ' Murano Bird Sculpture
Murano Glass
Sold
H 13.25 in W 10 in D 5 in
Large Murano glass Alessandro Pianon Murrine Sculpture with stand in blue
By Alessandro Pianon
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Large Murano glass Alessandro Pianon Murrine Sculpture with original stand in vibrant blue. Retains its original label. This piece is much larger than most examples and the only one ...
Blown Glass
Sold
H 12 in W 4.75 in D 3.5 in
Alessandro Pianon Model S 189 Pulcini Pulcino Murano Bird Sculpture with Murrine
By Alessandro Pianon
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Alessandro Pianon Model S 189 Pulcini Pulcino Murano Bird Sculpture with Murrine Decoration. These rare sculptures were made at Vistosi on the I...
Blown Glass
Pulcino Glass Bird by Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi Murano Italy 1960s
By Vistosi, Alessandro Pianon
Located in Troy, MI
A rare Pulcino bird designed by Alessandro Pianon for Vetreria Visosti Murano Italy circa 1962 Hand-blown glass in deep orange with inset glass murrine e...
Copper
Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi, Pulcino, 1962
By Vistosi, Alessandro Pianon
Located in CA, CA
Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi, Pulcino, 1962 A Beautiful wedge shaped "Pulcini" bird glass sculpture in blue with dark blue decorative spira...
Blown Glass
Alessandro Pianon Rare Hand Blown Glass Bird for Vistosi Murano 1963
By Vistosi, Alessandro Pianon
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare hand blown glass bird, Pulcini Series, green with red and blue murrhines with copper feet by Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi, Murano Italy, ca...
Copper
Sold
H 8.25 in W 4.5 in D 4.25 in
Alessandro Pianon Vistosi Murano Pulcino Pulcini Bird Sculpture Rare Form Color
By Alessandro Pianon
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Alessandro Pianon Vistosi Murano Pulcino Pulcini bird sculpture rare form color in dark emerald green. Abstract Murrine eyes. The square form is one of ...
Blown Glass
Lemon Yellow L51 'Cipola' Pendant Lamp by Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi, Italy
By Vistosi, Alessandro Pianon
Located in Buffalo, NY
This very beautiful pendant lamp, model 'Cipola' or 'Onion', was designed by Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi in Italy. The yellow "onion" shape is made of hand blown Murano glass. The ...
Murano Glass, Opaline Glass