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 Murano Red Glass Side Table with Brass Base, Italy
By Paolo Venini
Located in Red Lion, PA
Venini Murano Red Glass Side Table, Italian Mid-Century Modern Design. A striking and sculptural Italian side table featuring a luminous hand-blo...
Brass
$1,495
H 17.5 in W 23.5 in D 23.5 in
Vintage Italian Glass Top Round Side Table with Gilt Metal Roses Base
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Italy, this side table dates from the 1950s. Base is comprised of gilt-finished tripod legs with sculpted roses and leaves. Classic Hollywood Regency style! Round clear glas...
Metal
Paul McCobb Side Table with Brass Base by Calvin
By Paul McCobb
Located in Highland, IN
This exquisite vintage example of Paul McCobb's brass base table features a mahogany top and McCobb's elegant design in square stock brass. The table is entirely original and in very...
Brass
Brass Side Table Hoof Feet Horse Heads Base Glass Top
By Maison Charles, Maison Jansen
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Mid Century Italian modern thick glass top brass base side table. Beautiful Horse motif with substantial presence. Curbside to NYC/Philly $450
Brass
1920s Italian Side Table With Pedestal Base
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Italian side table with a round top set over a carved pedestal base. Stepped and molded detailing rises from an octagonal foot, with surface wear and patina consistent with age.
Wood, Paint
1970s Italian Geometric Brass Side Table with Blue Glass Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Italian side table from the 1970s featuring a sculptural brass structure composed of intersecting geometric forms that create a dynamic architectural base. The square top is ...
Brass
$2,141Sale Price|59% Off
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Ilustre side table with Brushed Brass base, available now
Located in Frazão, Porto
ILUSTRE side table: STOCK UNIT - Available for immediate delivery. The metal brass structure gives the ILUSTRE side table a strenght look. The top and the base are made of lacquere...
Brass
$5,850 / item
H 24.5 in Dm 15.25 in
Side Martini Drinks Side Table with Beveled Glass and Brass, Italy, Pair Avail.
Located in New York, NY
Occasional Martini drinks side table with thick beveled glass and patinated brass tripod base and small brass handle detail. Handmade in Italy, 2022. This bespoke modern side or martini table is handcrafted with thick lens cut polished beveled glass in the style of Fontana Arte glass and richly patinated brass stem base and detail. Please note that listing is for a single table. Pair Available. These tables are on display at the Gallery at 200 Lex...
Brass
Murano Glass Side Tables
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Murano glass tables, made of thick clear textured and molded glass. The top is connected to the base with a solid brass finial. The diameter of the base is 10”.
Brass
Italian Marble Side Table with Black Iron Base, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
Italian side table produced in the 1970s featuring a beautiful round marble top with dramatic natural veining. The expressive marble surface combines tones of white, grey and subtle ...
Marble, Iron
$4,000
H 24 in W 20.25 in D 20.25 in
Vintage Mid-Century Italian Brass Side Tables with Glass Tops, 1970s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rectangular, vintage Mid-Century modern pair of Italian side tables made of hand crafted brass, in good condition. The detailed end tables are composed with their original slightly...
Metal, Brass
$1,281Sale Price|60% Off
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
TERRA side table with Antique Brass base, available now
Located in Frazão, Porto
TERRA side table: STOCK UNIT - Available for immediate delivery The TERRA side table, with a balanced and elegant design, is settled on a base in real brass, with brass details inlaid on the top in lacquered wood. Available in glossy lacquered top in NCS S2005-Y20R color and Antique Brass base.
Brass
Square Brass Rings Chrome Frame Shape Base Glass Top Side Table
By Gucci, Maison Jansen
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern brass and chrome side end occasional glass top table.
Brass, Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Italian Blown Glass and Brass Console by Venini
By Paolo Venini
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful blown glass table top with gold inclusion on a brass base with thick clear glass legs create a minimalist console table.
Brass