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Toni Zuccheri

Italian, 1936-2008

Italian glassmaker and master Murano craftsman Toni Zuccheri’s lifelong passion for nature and animals contributed to the development of some of the finest modernist works in Murano glass history. His mid-century-era chandeliers, wall sconces, table lamps and vases showcase his penchant for experimentation and exceptional skill in color and form.

Zuccheri was born in 1936 in San Vito al Tagliamento. His father was Luigi Zuccheri (1904–74), a renowned painter known for his depictions of animals (and friend of artist Giorgio De Chirico). Toni not only inherited his father’s love of the animal kingdom — particularly birds — but also his artistic talents, demonstrating an intuitive skill for drawing at an early age.

In 1945, the Zuccheri family moved to Venice. At the city’s University Institute of Architecture, Toni studied under esteemed Italian architects Franco Albini, Ignazio Gardella and Carlo Scarpa.

During the early 1960s, Zuccheri focused on the art of glassmaking and collaborated with Venini. While working with the celebrated Italian Murano glass factory, he developed an innovative type of thick window glass sheets called Vetrate Grosse with prolific Italian architect and furniture designer Gio Ponti. The glass was made of dense, vitreous pastes mixed with murrine, raw pigment, shards of filigrana cane and fine wire mesh.

Zuccheri exhibited a group of elaborate bird and farm animal sculptures at the 1964 Venice Biennale. The birds, which were accented with gold leaf, included vibrantly hued guinea fowl-shaped works with murrine bodies, turkeys, owls and hoopoes (colorful birds known for their crown of feathers). Zuccheri employed an ingenious glass layering technique to create the birds’ feathers, while their realistic-looking legs and feet were made of bronze.

Throughout his career, Zuccheri’s love of birds and animals was a recurring theme in many of his glassworks, which he created for Venini and other Italian Murano glass manufacturers such as VeArt and Barovier & Toso. Today, his work lives on in galleries and private collections worldwide.

On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Toni Zuccheri lighting, decorative objects and serveware.

Membrane Vase by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt
By Toni Zuccheri, VeArt
Located in Lugo, IT
Membrane Vase by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt Good Condition Thank you
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Toni Zuccheri

Materials

Murano Glass

Membrane Vase by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt
Membrane Vase by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt
H 11.82 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
Italian Tronchi Chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini Style, Murano
By Toni Zuccheri
Located in Budapest, HU
The chandelier include precious 48 tronchi Murano glass 45 has cm long. Measures: Diameter 60 cm, height 110 cm. 16 lights.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Toni Zuccheri

Materials

Metal

Pair of Midcentury Multicoloured Murano Glass Chandelier by Zuccheri for Venini
By Toni Zuccheri
Located in Rome, IT
This amazing pair of chandelier with rare color combination considering the uniqueness with amber, pink, amethyst, and ice color precious Murano glasses. Each chandelier with 80 glas...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Toni Zuccheri

Materials

Blown Glass

Signed Mid-Century Murano Glass Giaue Bowl by Toni Zuccheri for Venini
By Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine mid-century modern Murano glass bowl. By Venini. Designed by Toni Zuccheri. In the form of a thick glass bowl with complex copper inclusions on opaque orange ground. Desig...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toni Zuccheri

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Murano Chandelier "Tronchi" Design by Toni Zuccheri, 1960s Italy
By Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Elegant and timeless 1960s Italian Glass chandelier "Tronchi", by Toni Zuccheri for the esteemed Murano house of Venini. This gorgeous Tronchi variant features 22 individual cylindr...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toni Zuccheri

Materials

Metal, Brass

Rare Large Murano Glass Magazine Rack by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt Murano, 1970s
By Toni Zuccheri, VeArt
Located in Brescia , Brescia
Elevate your home decor with this stunning and rare Murano glass magazine holder, designed by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt Murano in the 1970s. Crafted with exquisite attention to detail...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toni Zuccheri

Materials

Murano Glass

Vase by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt
By VeArt, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Torino, IT
Talea vase from the Membrane series by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt. Elegant cylindrical blown murano glass vase with polychrome applications. The cylindrical part has yellow hues given...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Toni Zuccheri

Materials

Murano Glass

Vase by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt
Vase by Toni Zuccheri for VeArt
H 18.12 in Dm 5.91 in
Pair of Table Lamps by Toni Zuccheri for Mazzega, Murano Ice Glass, Italy, 1970s
By Toni Zuccheri, Mazzega
Located in Roma, IT
Magnificent pair of table lamps made in Murano ice glass. This rare and iconic cubic table lamps were designed by Toni Zuccheri for Mazzega, in Italy during the 1970s. This stunning...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toni Zuccheri

Materials

Chrome

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Toni Zuccheri furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Toni Zuccheri furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Toni Zuccheri furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 212 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 11 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Toni Zuccheri were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Gae Aulenti, Tommaso Barbi, and Achille Castiglioni. Prices for Toni Zuccheri furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $11 and can go as high as $125,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,152.

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