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.
$2,520Sale Price|30% Off
Tronchi Murano Chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini
By Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian chandelier or lantern with clear tree trunk shaped Murano glass tubes / Designed by Toni Zuccheri for Venini, made in Italy, circa 1960s Measures: diameter 12 inches,...
Brass
Toni Zuccheri "Membrana" Murano Glass Pendant for Venini, Italy, circa 1968
By Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Lisse, NL
Handcrafted and stylish pendant light with rarest patterns for your stairwell, hallway or bedroom. A rare and iconic "Membrana" pendant light designed by acclaimed Italian architect...
Wire, Metal, Nickel
$2,398Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 47.25 in Dm 17.72 in
Pair of Tronchi Chandelier in Toni Zuccheri Style for Venini, Murano
By Toni Zuccheri
Located in Budapest, HU
Pair Italian vintage chandelier in Murano glass and nickel-plated metal structure. The armor polished nickel supports 30 large clear glass tubes in a star shape. Period: 1960s Dimens...
Metal
Large Midcentury Murano Chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini
By Seguso, Salviati, Paolo Venini, Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Houston, TX
Large midcentury Murano chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini. Stunning large midcentury clear Murano glass chandelier by Toni ...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$7,674Sale Price / set|27% Off
H 70.87 in Dm 33.47 in
Amazing Pair of Tronchi Chandeliers Style Toni Zuccheri for Venini, Murano
By Toni Zuccheri
Located in Budapest, HU
Italian vintage chandelier in Murano glass and nickel-plated metal structure on 4 levels. The armor polished nickel supports 78 large pink fuxia silk glass tubes in a star shape. Pe...
Metal
Murano glass chandelier Tronchi by Toni Zuccheri for Venini Italy 1960s
By Toni Zuccheri, Venini
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Illuminate your space with the enduring elegance of this Murano glass chandelier, a creation from the 1960s designed by Toni Zuccheri for Venini & Co., a prominent player in the revi...
Murano Glass
Chandelier "Tronchi" by Toni Zuccheri for Venini, 1960s
By Toni Zuccheri, Venini
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A midcentury classic so-called "Tronchi" chandelier by Gino Vistosi. Clear Murano glass tubes in different sizes that cascades down from a metal structure. In great condition. Total...
Murano Glass
Gigantic Tronchi Chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini, 1960s
By Paolo Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Purkersdorf, AT
Gigantic ceiling lamp from Venini & Co. A total of 85 Tronchi glass elements - 71 of which are very large, hand-blown Tronchi glass tubes (30 x 7 cm); these are arranged in 3 rows. I...
Brass
$5,276
H 34.65 in Dm 20.87 in
Italian Murano Handmade Glass Chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini, 1960s
By Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This rare chandelier was produced in Italy by the famous glassworks Venini, circa 1960s. It is made from 51 handmade pieces of transparent glass hung on the painted metal structure. ...
Metal, Nickel
Pendant Light by Toni Zuccheri for Venini in Murano Glass, circa 1960
By Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Space Age pendant light by Toni Zuccheri for Venini in Murano glass, circa 1960 from the 'Membrana' series.
Blown Glass
$4,790
H 20.48 in Dm 21.66 in
MCM Murano Glass Chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini, Italy, ca. 1970
By Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Large Mid-Century Modern chandelier in hand blown Murano glass. This model was designed by Toni Zuccheri and manufactured by Venini in Murano Italy circa 1970. The pieces are execute...
Murano Glass
$3,400 / item
H 15.5 in Dm 15.5 in
Toni Zuccheri for Venini Clear Murano Glass Petite "Esprit" Chandelier 1970s
By Toni Zuccheri, Venini
Located in New York, NY
The hand crafted clear Murano glass & chrome petite "Esprit" chandelier. This iconic sputnik style pendant fixture embodies the same organic qualities and elegance as its larger coun...
Nickel
Murano Glass Chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini
By Toni Zuccheri, Venini
Located in Houston, TX
Murano glass chandelier by Toni Zuccheri For Venini. Our unusual vintage Italian chandelier, pendant or lantern is comprised of 18 inch hand blown Murano glass tubes suspended from a...
Chrome
$1,798
H 19.69 in Dm 14.97 in
Italian Murano Glass Tronchi Chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini, Italy 60s
By Toni Zuccheri, Venini
Located in Lucija, SI
Nice Murano Amber and Clear Glass Tronchi Chandelier Designed by Toni Zuccheri for Venini in the late 60s 26 Tronchi
Murano Glass
Murano Glass Chandelier by Toni Zuccheri for Venini
By Toni Zuccheri, Venini
Located in Houston, TX
Murano glass chandelier by Toni Zuccheri For Venini. Our unusual vintage Italian chandelier, pendant or lantern is comprised of ...
Chrome