Paolo Venini Furniture
While Venini & Co.'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.
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.
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 Paolo Venini chandeliers, serveware, table lamps, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Furniture
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Furniture
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Glass
1950s Italian Vintage Paolo Venini Furniture
Art Glass
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Furniture
Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Furniture
Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Paolo Venini Furniture
Art Glass, Murano Glass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Furniture
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Furniture
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Furniture
Art Glass, Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Furniture
Glass
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Furniture
Glass, Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Furniture
Murano Glass, Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Furniture
Opaline Glass, Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Furniture
Art Glass
Paolo Venini furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
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- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify Venini glass, first look for markings, usually found on the base or interior of glassware. Over its long history, Venini used dozens of labels and acid-stamped marks on its pieces. You can find images of these marks on the pages of trusted online resources to compare to your piece. Keep in mind that Venini's foil labels tend to come off over the years, so a lack of a marking or label doesn't necessarily mean that your piece is not a Venini. However, there are many convincing replicas of Venini glassware. As a result, experts recommend consulting a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer for assistance with the identification process, especially if you can't locate a label or acid mark. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Venini glass.