Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Italian, 1895-1959
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.
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Creator: Paolo Venini
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Milk White 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. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Grape and Pink Murano Glass
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in grape and pink Murano glass by Paolo Venini and Riedizione. Limited edition in 99 art pieces each. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whol...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Apple Green 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. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Horizon Murano Glass
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Clessidra Hourglass, Paolo Venini, Venini Murano 'Italy'
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brussels, BE
The hourglasses designed by Paolo Venini in 1957 were exhibited at the Triennale di Milano the same year.
This piece is a large and rare model. The two parts have a conical shape a...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Blown 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Red 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 ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Art Glass Bottle with Fasce Decoration in Yellow, Murano 1950s
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini art glass bottle with Fasce decoration in yellow, Murano 1950s
A large art glass bottle in white opaque glass with yellow stopper and a yellow "a fascia" band on the body as ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Art Glass, 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Grey 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Acquamarine 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 ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Sapphire Murano Glass
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Paolo Venini Murano Italy Midcentury Glass Vase “Incisi” Serie, 1956
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Truncated cone vase from the “Incisi” series designed by Paolo Venini for Venini Murano, heavy blown glass with overlapping colors of amethyst, crystal and carnelian, etched on the o...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Indigo 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. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Inciso Glass Vase by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini
Located in New York, NY
Wheel carved glass. 3 Line acid-etched Venini signature underneath.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Glass
"Cane" Stopper Bottle by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in New York, NY
Blown glass bottle form created with canes of blue & green colors.
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Grey 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Large Vase in Horizon Murano Glass
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Vase in Amber Murano Glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Horizon 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Murano Italy Glass Blue Bottle Serie “Velati”, 1992
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Amazing and fabulous Italian handmade and blown bottle in light blue color glass with stopper, from the “Velati” series designed and produced by Venini Murano in 1992.
Logo "Venin...
Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Amber/Milk White 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. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Large Vase of the 'Pesanti' Series, Paolo Venini for Venini, Murano 1952
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A large vase in thick amethyst glass with circular decoration on the neck. Designed by Paolo Venini in 1952, manufactured by Venini, Murano Venezia. Model number 1522. Acid stamp "ve...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Art Glass, 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. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Incisi Short Glass Vase in Steel Blue by Paolo Venini
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Incisi glass vase collection, designed by Paolo Venini and manufactured by Venini, feature an engraved surface. Originally designed in 1956. Numb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Glass
Puntini Murrine Glass Bowl, Paolo Venini, Venini Murano Italia
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Brussels, BE
Bowl in glass with “talpa” (mole grey) and “lattimo” (milk white) murrine.
The name of this particular murrine is known as “a puntini” which means “dotted” in Italian.
It’s in fac...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opaline Large Vase in Amber/ Milk white Murano Glass
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi, Paolo Venini
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. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano 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....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Amethyst Soffiato Glass Vase with Applied Handles
By Paolo Venini
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large chalice form in transparent amethyst -colored glass.
Three-line acid stamp.
Possibly designed by Vittorio Vecchin.
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Art Glass
Venini Bottle with Stopper
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in New York, NY
Venini glass bottle with stopper in composite glass with finely wheel-engraved finish of delicate creases, incised on bottom "Venini Italia".
P...
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Glass
Paolo Venini Frosted Murano Art Glass Vase Manufactured by Venini Italy 1997
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Miami, FL
A heavy black and white Murano art glass vase designed by Artist Paolo Venini.
Frosted Murano glass on the outside and in lined with black Murano glass.
Signed and dated, MURANO MA...
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Paolo Venini Vase
By Paolo Venini
Located in New York, NY
A Paolo Venini. 'A Bolle' Murano glass vase.
Murano glass, clear and ruby-red with air-inclusions.
Signed: Venini Murano Italia.
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Art Glass
20th Century Italian Vase by Paolo Venini
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Roma, IT
Very rare vase designed by Paolo Venini in cased glass, white and glossy, a must for Murano glass collectors.
The item also displays a circular trademark "Venini Murano, Italy".
Th...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Glass
Murano Glass "Amphora" Pulegoso Vase by Napoleone Martinuzzi for Venini
By Paolo Venini, Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Roma, RM
Stunning green Pulegoso Murano glass "Urn" vase with applied glass decoration. The base, mouth, decorations and handle were rolled gold gold leaf during hot phase of creation, leavin...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Vase Paolo Venini, 1950s
By Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Glass vase "engraved series" by Paolo Venini. Acid signature of the manufacture under the base.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paolo Venini Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Paolo Venini vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs.
Paolo Venini vases and vessels are available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider vases and vessels by Archimede Seguso, Fulvio Bianconi, and Driade.