For a range of work that includes everything from illustrating thousands of books and other publications to his role as a visionary glassmaker, Fulvio Bianconi is remembered as one of the most innovative cross-disciplinarian artists of the postwar era.
Born in Ponte di Brenta in 1915, Bianconi showed a prodigious talent for drawing at an early age and, as a teenager, earned money as a portraitist. He also worked as an apprentice decorator in his youth at the Murano glass furnaces, where he first discovered the art of glassmaking.
In 1933, he moved to Milan to pursue a career as a graphic artist, and it was there he met Dino Villani, a painter who had ties to some of Milan’s most prestigious publishing houses and advertising firms. However, at the onset of World War II, Bianconi paused his graphic design ambitions and joined the army. In 1944, he narrowly escaped the infamous Via Rasella Nazi raids in German-occupied Rome.
Following the war, Bianconi went to work designing perfume bottles for the Milan perfume house Giviemme at Venini glassworks, 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.
Venini co-founder 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 worked with several other glass studios, including Cenedese in 1954 and Vistosi in 1963, creating decorative vessels, bowls, hourglasses and sculptures. He was also a graphic designer with the Italian publishing house Garzanti for nearly 30 years. Bianconi’s portfolio of graphic design included work for FIAT, Pathé and Pirelli, among others.
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. The artist died in 1996.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Fulvio Bianconi decorative objects, glassware and lighting.
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Black Murano Glass
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino small vase in Amber murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15t...
Murano Glass
Venini Murano Glass Bottle by Fulvio Bianconi, Deep Blue & Red Bands
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Splendid large bottle, belonging to the A fasce orizzontali series, made by Venini in 1952 based on a design by Fulvio Bianconi. It has a deep blue color with two large irregular hor...
Murano Glass
Handshake, a Post-War Lattimo Art Glass Sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An exceptionally rare figurine by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini & Co. Referred to as 'Handshake', the model consists of a gloved hand with a scalloped cuff shaking hands with a naked...
Murano Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Taupe Grey Murano Glass, Signed 2013, handmade in Italy
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00, in grey opalino glass. Hand-blown and finished by master glassmakers in Murano, with the characteristic wavy rim "mano volante" that reca...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Grey/Indigo by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Glass
$1,386 / item
Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Grape Red Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in amber murano glass by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Horizon Murano Glass
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in Horizon Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color uniqu...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Bicolore Small Vase in Amber and Horizon Murano Glass
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Bicolore Small Vase in Amber and Horizon Murano Glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its c...
Murano Glass
Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Sapphire Cipria Pink Murano Glass
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in amber murano glass by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so real, like time ticking away. In 1...
Murano Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Red/Opaque Pink by Fulvio Bianconi
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Milk-White by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Red/Apple Green Inside by Fulvio Bianconi
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Taupe Grey Murano Glass, Signed 2014, handmade in Italy
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.02, in grey opalino glass. Hand-blown and finished by master glassmakers in Murano, with the characteristic wavy rim "mano volante" that reca...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Red Murano Glass, limited 90th Anniversary, Signed 2012
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00 90th Anniversary, in Red glass, diamond-engraved Venini 2004 with box and paperwork. Special-edition produced in 2012 to commemorate Veni...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Black by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Green Murano Glass, Signed 2014, handmade in Italy
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00, in Green opalino glass, Signed 2014 with box and paperwork. Hand-blown and finished by master glassmakers in Murano, with the characteri...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Venini Clessidre Glass Hourglass in Pink and Gray by Fulvio Bianconi
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidre Hourglass, designed by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi, was originally designed in 1957. Available in different colors, the grey / mint green version is a limited edition ...
Glass
Venini Vase Fazzoletto by Fulvio Bianconi 1950s
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Buffalo, NY
Venini Vase Fazzoletto by Fulvio Bianconi 1950s A large Fazzoletto vase in lattimo glass with white and black glass overlay. It was manufacture...
Art Glass
Venini Ritagli Glass Vase in Iridescent Red by Fulvio Bianconi
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in iridescent red designed by Fulvio Bianconi in 1989. Perfect for indoor home decor as a flower vase or statement piece for any room. Numbered edition for year. ...
Art Glass
VENINI Fazzoletto Zanfirico Murano Glass, Limited Edition 16/199, 2016
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 034.79, in Amethyst and Black glass, Limited Edition 16/199, Signed 2016 with box and certificate. Hand-blown and finished by master glassmakers...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Aquamarine Murano Glass, Signed 2004, handmade in Italy
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00, in Aquamarine opalino glass, Diamond-engraved Venini 2004 with box and paperwork. Hand-blown and shaped free-hand using the traditional m...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Horizon Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in Horizon Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color uniqu...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Apple Green Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in Horizon Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color uniqu...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Sabbiato Medium Vase in Amber/ Milk White Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in amber Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. A light summer breeze leads us to discover the iconic Venini collection...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Black Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in Horizon Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color uniqu...
Murano Glass
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Venini Fulvio Bianconi Murano Gray Opalino Italian Art Glass Sculptural Vase
By Paolo Venini, Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful 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...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Taupe Grey Murano Glass, Signed 2015, handmade in Italy
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.02, in grey opalino glass. Hand-blown and finished by master glassmakers in Murano, with the characteristic wavy rim "mano volante" that reca...
Murano Glass, Blown Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Orange Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino small vase in amber Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique. ...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opaline Large Vase in Amber/ Milk white Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opaline large vase in amber Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique. ...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Horizon Murano Glass
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino small vase in Amber Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique. ...
Murano Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Yellow & Blue Murano Glass, Signed 2012 90° Anniversary
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Venezia, IT
Special-edition Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00, produced in 2012 to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of Venini (1921–2011). Executed in Yellow & Aquamarine opalino glass, h...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Sapphire Murano Glass
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Amber Murano Glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique. ...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Indigo Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Amber Murano Glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique. ...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Milk White Murano Glass
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino small vase in Amber Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique. ...
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Milk White Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in Horizon Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color uniqu...
Murano Glass
Pulegoso Glass Bowl by Fulvio Bianconi for Cenedese
By Cenedese, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in New York, NY
Clear & colored blown glass. Great scale with internal bubbles and vibrant color stripes. Signed on underside by maker.
Blown Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Horizon by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Glass
Fulvio Bianconi Venini Murano Azure Blue Fazzoletto Vase
By Fulvio Bianconi, Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in New Windsor, NY
The famous handkerchief designed Venini, Murano glass vase. Crimped, creased, nipped and pulled into a one of a kind work of art in azure blue glass. Remarkably beautiful and delica...
Glass, Art Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Amber/ Milk White Murano Glass
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in amber Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique....
Murano Glass
Fulvio Bianconi Bowl Pezzato Americano, Venini, Murano 1950s
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Pezzato Americano bowl in yellow, green, straw and black colored glass designed by Fulvio Bianconi in 1950. Manufactured by Venini, Venice ca. 1950s. With acid etched signature "Ve...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Red & Pink Murano Glass, Signed 2010, handmade in Italy
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00, in red and pink opalino glass, Signed 2010 with original box and paperwork. Hand-blown and finished by master glassmakers in Murano, wit...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Fulvio Bianconi 'Ritalgi' Vase for Venini, Italy 1998
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Hellouw, NL
A playful and expressive example of late 20th-century Murano glassmaking, this 'Ritagli' vase by Fulvio Bianconi was produced by Venini in 1998. Known for his experimental approach t...
Glass
Italian modern Murano glass fish sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, 1990s
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Murano glass fish sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, 1990s Fantastic and vintage fish-shaped sculpture, entirely made of Murano glass. The open mouth is yellow, ...
Glass, Murano Glass
VENINI 1950 By Fulvio Bianconi Murano Blue-Green Bottle Red Fasce Orizontali
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Miami, FL
A fasce-orizontali bottle designed by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini. This is a very rare art-glass tall bottle designed by the artist Fulvio Bianconi for the Venini company, back in 19...
Art Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Iceberg & White Murano Glass, Signed 2013
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00, in Iceberg and White opalino glass, Signed 2013 with box and paperwork. Hand-blown and finished by master glassmakers in Murano, with th...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
VENINI Fazzoletto White Murano Glass Signed 2014, handmade in Italy
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.02, in White glass, diamond-engraved Venini 2014 with box and paperwork. Hand-blown and shaped free-hand using the traditional mano volante ...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Vase "Fazzoletto Zanfirico" by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, Italy, 1950s
By Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Brussels, BE
Vase "Fazzoletto Zanfirico" by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, Italy, 1950s
Murano Glass
Rare Murano Glass Bottle by Fulvio Bianconi for Vistosi, Italy, 1960s
By Fulvio Bianconi, Vistosi
Located in Milan, IT
Rare Murano glass bottle by Fulvio Bianconi for Vistosi.
Murano Glass
VENINI Hourglass Green and Blue Signed 1998, Made in italy
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Venezia, IT
VENINI Hourglass Green and Blue model 420.06, produced in 1998 and accompanied by its original Venini box and paperwork. Highly collectible, the Hourglass series is sought after for ...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Orange Murano Glass, Signed 2012, Made in Italy
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Timeless Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00, in Orange opalino glass, diamond-engraved Venini 2012 with box and paperwork. Hand-blown and shaped free-hand using the traditional man...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
VENINI vase Fazzoletto opalino Turquoise & Green Murano Glass, Signed 2010
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Timeless Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00, in Turquoise and Green opalino glass, diamond-engraved Venini 2010 with box and paperwork. Hand-blown and shaped free-hand using the tr...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Rare Set of Two Murano Glass Bottles by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, 1950s
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Milan, IT
Rare set of two bottles with stopper "A Fasce Verticali" by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini.
Murano Glass
Fulvio Bianconi, Venini Satin Iridescent Murano Glass Vase Rare 4-Line Acid Mark
By Maria Theresa Venini 1, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Grat and rare Venini, Bianconi Murano glass acid 4-line early mark vase, nice smoke color, iridato, satin.
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Fasce Orizzontali Vase 'Model Number 4315', Fulvio Bianconi, Venini Murano
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Uccle, BE
Large green blown glass bottle vase decorated with two hot applied red bands. The collar consists of a layer of translucent red glass which is itself different from the glass used ...
Blown Glass
$840Sale Price|20% Off
Fulvio Bianconi Figurative Murano decanter by Pauly & Co.
By Fulvio Bianconi
Located in SYDNEY, AU
Fulvio Bianconi designed glass for Pauly & Co. speciically decanters featuring his signature playful style. Records indicate signed figurative decanters (e.g. model A49155) which...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Fazzoletto Sabbiato Large Vase in Apple Green by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique. A light summer breeze leads us to discover the iconic Venini collection...
Glass
Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Red Straw Yellow Murano Glass
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in amber murano glass by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so real, like time ticking away. In 1...
Murano Glass
Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Sapphire Cipria Pink Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in amber murano glass by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so real, like time ticking away. In 1...
Murano Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Apple Green by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Sapphire by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Glass