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.
Fulvio Bianconi Candlestick Pair for Venini, Murano, Italy1940'
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in London, GB
Pair of surreal candlesticks by Fulvio Bianconi (1915-1996) for Venini from the early post war years 1947-49, model nos. 2966 /2913, comprising pair of clothes hanger candlesticks, l...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$1,386 / item
H 9.85 in Dm 3.94 in
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
Art Glass Sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini 1949
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Art Glass Sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini 1949 A rare art glass sculpture from the 'Nudes' series made of green glass with an iridescent surface. Manufactured in the 1950s b...
Art Glass
Fulvio Bianconi for Venini "Fazzoletto" Vase, ca. 1950
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Bochum, NRW
A vintage Murano hand blown 'fazzoletto'/handkerchief art glass vase. Deigned by Fulvio Bianconi, for the Venini Company, circa 1950, the vase has a red and white decoration of alte...
Glass
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
H 7 in W 7 in D 13.5 in
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
"Pezzato" Vase by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Milan, IT
Remarkable "Pezzato" vase by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini. Signed with three-line acid stamp to underside.
Murano Glass
$349
H 7.68 in W 5.12 in D 1.97 in
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
Fulvio Bianconi model 1329 “Pezzato” vase for Venini, Italy, 1950s
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Skokie, IL
Fulvio Bianconi model 1329 “Pezzato” vase for Venini, Italy, 1950s Additional Information: Materials: Polychrome patchwork glass Dimensions: 9 1/4" H x 6 1/2" Dia. Condition: Excell...
Glass
Glass Sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, Italy, 1960s
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Milan, IT
Glass sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini. Colored glass block used as sample to compose screens, large windows or as single sculptures...
Glass
Fulvio Bianconi Venini Murano Azure Blue Fazzoletto Vase
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, 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
Vintage Venini Murano Fulvio Bianconi Double Incalmo Blown Glass Vase
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Uccle, BE
Among the many designs and different techniques he experimented within his collaboration with Venini, Fulvio Bianconi used the "A incalmo" technique which requires great mastery from the glassblowers. This is an "a doppio incalmo" vase which simply means a double incalmo. Cylindrical vase, composed of three distinct colors. The base in black glass, the middle part in red glass and the upper part in blue glass. The vases were obtained by merging several "rings" of molten glass. Designed in 1951, the vase is in very good condition. It was produced in the 1950s and bears the acid seal "venini murano italia". The vase is published in many books, and is sometimes misattributed to Thomas Stearns who will be inspired by these forms and these particular techniques developed by Fulvio Bianconi, Paolo Venini and also Ricardo Licata...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$6,173
H 13.98 in Dm 3.63 in
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
Fulvio Bianconi, Two Tiepoleschi Figurines, Pulcinella
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Pair of white lattimo figurines with black details. Fulvio Bianconi, designer at Venini. Very good detailed quality. White lattimo glass with black applications. The pieces belong to...
Murano Glass
Reserved for Suhas
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Reserved for Suhas - Both item descriptions are on this listing as well their photos. Flower Candlestick: Gorgeous and very rare, vintage Murano hand blown pink triple flower Italia...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
Venini Murano Glass Candleholder Lantern Fulvio Bianconi I Baloni Del Redentor
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Washington, DC
Beautiful and collected glass lantern designed by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini to celebrate the Baloni del Redentor festivities in Venice. Titled and dated '99 to underside. Work is un...
Glass
Fasce Ritorte Hurricane Lamp by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, Italy, 1950
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Vienna, AT
Fasce Ritorte Hurricane lamp by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini. Handblown clear glass with blue, green and red swirling stripes. The clear glass candle holder...
Glass