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.
Venini Signed Murano Glass Bottle by Gio Ponti with Original Stopper, Italy 1997
By Paolo Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in London, GB
A beautiful ‘a canne’ Murano blue art glass bottle designed by Gio Ponti and made by Venini in Murano, Venice, Italy in 1997. The original design for this piece is by Gio Ponti a...
Art Glass
Paolo Venini Murano Label Blue Orange Inciso Technique Italian Art Glass Bottle
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, rare double color, vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso navy blue and flame orange Italian art glass bottle with stopper. The piece is documented to designer Paolo Venini fo...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
Paolo Venini Inciso Glass Bottle Manufactured by Venini 1990s
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Paolo Venini Inciso Glass Bottle Manufactured by Venini 1990s A vintage "Inciso" glass bottle designed by Paolo Venini in 1956 and manufactured by...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$888Sale Price|20% Off
Venini Murano Italy Blue Glass Bottle Vase Serie “Velati” 1992
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Amazing and fabulous very rare Italian handmade and blown bottle in light blue color glass with stopper, from the “Velati” series designed and produ...
Glass
Murano Glass “Inciso” Bottle (Decanter) with Stopper by Paolo Venini, Murano
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Uccle, BE
Murano Glass “Inciso” Bottle (Decanter) with Stopper by Paolo Venini, Venini, Murano (Italy). Bottle and matching stopper in purple Murano glass, b...
Blown 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.
Blown Glass
$1,493Sale Price|55% Off
Bottle Paolo Venini 1950 Blu Color Murano Art Glass Serie Inciso made in Italy
By Paolo Venini
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Rare Murano glass bottle, museum piece in cobalt blue, Inciso series.
Murano Glass
Venini Art Glass Bottle with Fasce Decoration in Yellow, Murano 1950s
By Venini, Paolo 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 ...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Inciso Glass Bottle with Stopper by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in New York, NY
Wheel carved glass. Venini label adhered to bottom. Provenance: Private collection, FL.
Glass, Blown Glass
Venini Bottle with Stopper
By Venini, Paolo 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...
Glass
Venini Sommerso Inciso Green Glass Bottle and Stopper
By Paolo Venini
Located in Doraville, GA
A beautiful bottle with stopper by Paolo Venini for Venini from the 1950's. The bottle is "sommerso" which in English literally means "submerged". This technique is used to create several layers of glass (usually with different contrasting colors) inside a single object. This bottle appears to be clear glass incased in green glass. The stopper is layered with clear, rose and green glass. The surface of the bottle and stopper is "inciso" which in English means engraved or incised, this process is done by hand on a grinding wheel...
Blown Glass
21st Century Bottiglie Incise Glass Bottle in Ocean Colour by Paolo Venini
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in murano, IT
A multitude of shapes and colours. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity o...
Glass
21st Century Bottiglie Incise Glass Bottle in Grass Green by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in murano, IT
A multitude of shapes and colours. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity o...
Glass
21st Century Bottiglie Incise Glass Bottle in Bronze Color by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in murano, IT
A multitude of shapes and colors. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity of...
Glass
21st Century Bottiglie Incise Glass Bottle in Blue Iron by Paolo Venini
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in murano, IT
A multitude of shapes and colours. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity o...
Glass
21st Century Bottiglie Incise Glass Bottle in Cornelian Orange by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in murano, IT
A multitude of shapes and colours. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity o...
Glass
21st Century Bottiglie Incise Glass Bottle in Raspberry Color by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in murano, IT
A multitude of shapes and colors. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity of...
Glass
Paolo Venini Inciso Vase
By Venini
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a clean example with pleasing proportions
Art Glass
$864Sale Price|20% Off
H 6 in W 3.5 in D 4.75 in
Paolo Venini Signed Murano Sommerso Blue Inciso Technique Italian Art Glass Vase
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful Murano hand blown Sommerso navy blue Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to designer Paolo Venini for the Venini Company, circa 1950s. It is fully signed with the "Ve...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass
Gio Ponti for Venini Italian Morandine Art Glass Decanter & Stopper
By Gio Ponti
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning Italian Venini mid-century blue and green Morandine art glass decanter by the father figure of Italian design Gio Ponti (Italian, 1891-1979) and designed in 1949. Gio Po...
Blown Glass
Venini Incisi Thin Glass Vase in Marine 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...
Glass
Gio Ponti Venini Murano Glass Bottle Morandiana Series 1960s
By Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare Gio Ponti bottle for Venini designed in the 1950s from the Morandiana series. This example is a 1960s edition, acid-etched venini murano italia signature under the base, origina...
Glass
Gio Ponti for Venini "A Canne" Red and Green Glass Vase
By Gio Ponti
Located in Stamford, CT
Gio Ponti ( Italian., 1891 - 1979 ) for Venini "A Canne" red and green Art Glass vase. Murano, Italy. Circa 2002 from a 1955 design.
Art Glass
$6,006 / item
H 4.93 in W 7.29 in D 6.3 in
Venini Incisi Short Glass Vase in Marine 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. Numbered edition per year, marine blue ve...
Glass
Venini Art Glass Bowl 'Diamante' by Paolo Venini, Murano 1930s
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini Art Glass Bowl 'Diamante' by Paolo Venini, Murano 1930s A rare Venini art glass bowl of the 'Diamante' series. Heavy transparent glass with a ...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Gio Ponti for Venini, A Canne Polychrome Vase, Murano, circa 1950s
By Gio Ponti, Venini
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A commanding example of the a canne technique by Gio Ponti for Venini, executed in a generous upright trumpet form with a gently undulating, free-formed rim. Vertical canes of colore...
Murano Glass
Italian Murano Blue and White Handkerchief Vase after Venini
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, authentic, Italian Murano fazzoletto (handkerchief) vase in clear/transparent, blue, and white art glass, in the Venini style, circa mid-20th century, Italy. This beautiful hand-crafted Italian handkerchief vase...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$956Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 10.32 in Dm 6 in
Mid-Century Artisan Striped Cane Bottle Decanters like Gio Ponti for Venini
By Gio Ponti
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Unknown design/maker, unsigned, possibly Murano. An amazing pair of hand-blown art glass bottles with matching stoppers. Thin walled, striping all through botles and the stoppers. ...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
$2,220
H 13.78 in Dm 4.34 in
Italian Design Gio Ponti Art Glass Bottle "Morandiana (V)" Venini Murano, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, Venini
Located in Odense, DK
An exceptionally refined "Morandiana (V)" art glass bottle designed by Gio Ponti for Venini in the 1950s, exemplifying the architect-designer's celebrated exploration of pure geometr...
Blown Glass
Sold
H 10.25 in W 4.5 in D 4.5 in
Paolo Venini Sommerso Inciso Set of 3 Postmodern Art Studio Glass Decanters
By Paolo Venini
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 3 Paolo Venini Sommerso Inciso art glass decanters. This is a jaw-dropping set of mid century decanters from legendary Italian desig...
Art Glass
Murano Glass Bottle with Stopper by Paolo Venini
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Large bottle with a rectangular base made in the 1950s by Paolo Venini Color: dark green Signed in acid "Venini Murano Italia". Biography Paolo Venini was an Italian glass designer,...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 6.3 in W 2.76 in D 1.97 in
Venini Bottle in Light Blue Murano Glass 'Veiled' Collection from 1995
By Paolo Venini
Located in Milano, MI
Light blue Murano glass bottle from the 'Veiled' Collection, designed by Paolo Venini in 1995 Ø 7 cm Ø 5 cm h 16 cm
Murano Glass
Paolo Venini "Bottiglie Incise" Green Glass Bottle, Italy, 1985
By Paolo Venini
Located in Naples, IT
Bottle with stopper from the series "Bottiglie Incise', Murano Italy. Cleverly engraved to conceal their imaginary contents, they arouse the curiosity of spectators, who cannot help ...
Murano Glass
Paolo Venini "Bottiglie Incise" Prune Glass Bottle, Italy, 1985
By Paolo Venini
Located in Naples, IT
Bottle with stopper from the series "Bottiglie Incise', Murano Italy. Cleverly engraved to conceal their imaginary contents, they arouse the curiosity of spectators, who cannot help ...
Murano Glass
Venini Murano Italy Glass Green Bottle Serie “Velati”, 1981
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Amazing and fabulous Italian handmade and blown bottle in green color glass with stopper, from the “Velati” series designed and produced by Venini Murano in 1981. Original Venini Murano label...
Glass
Gio Ponti Paolo Venini Murano Glass Bottle Morandiana Series 1982
By Paolo Venini, Gio Ponti
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare Gio Ponti and Paolo Venini bottle for Venini designed in the 1950s, “ A Canne” model from the Morandiana series. This example is a 1980s edition, signed Venini 82, with its orig...
Glass
Group of 3 Inciso Technique Decanters by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This group of 3 Paolo Venini Murano glass decanters have been well preserved and are simply stunning. All three were designed as part of his "Inciso" (incisions) series in the 1950s. This technique utilized a wheel to ground thin horizontal incisions throughout the base and stopper lending each decanter its own individual texture and pattern. Sold as a trio, we have an orange, an olive green, and a blue...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Inciso Bottled Vase by Paolo Venini, Venini, Italy
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Uccle, BE
About this "inciso" bottled vase, know as model number 4815 "erba" color variation by Paolo Venini Large bottle in “erba” color variation, (pale green and straw-colored glass finish...
Blown Glass
Large Pair of 1950s Paolo Venini Murano Glass Bottles
By Paolo Venini
Located in New York, NY
An impressive and large pair of documented 1950s Venini blown glass bottles by Paolo Venini (Milan 1895 - Venice 1959) of Murano, Italy. The bottles are hand blown in a rich amethyst...
Murano Glass
Paolo Venini for Venini Inciso Murano Green Glass Italian Bottle
By Paolo Venini
Located in Chicago, IL
Paolo Venini (1895-1959) for Venini Inciso bottle, Murano, Italy, circa 1950 Green wheel-carved glass and original black stopper Three-line acid stamp 'V...
Murano Glass
Paolo Venini for Venini Inciso Murano Amber Glass Italian Bottle
By Paolo Venini
Located in Chicago, IL
Paolo Venini (1895-1959) for Venini Inciso bottle, Murano, Italy, circa 1950 Amber wheel-carved glass and original black stopper three-line acid stamp 'V...
Murano Glass