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.
While the company’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.
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 Venini chandeliers, serveware, table lamps, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Venini Opalino 706.22 Medium - Black - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Opaline 706.22 - Medium Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano gla...
Glass
Venini Anelli 542.00 Murano Glass Vase - Green - Design Venini - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Venini Model: Rings 542.00 Collection: Rings Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase. Anelli is a decorative piec...
Glass
Venini Murrine Opache 488.11 Murano Glass Centerpiece table Carlo Scarpa Damiani
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Carlo Scarpa Model: Opaque Murrine 488.11 Collection: Murrine Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this unique Murano...
Glass
Wall lamp by Paolo Venini, around 1955
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Berlin, DE
Italian designer Paolo Venini created this extraordinary wall lamp. It is made of hand-blown reticello glass. It is attached by a central band of transparent hand-blown red glass. Th...
Brass
Venini Where Are My Glasses 777.50 Glass Vase, Red - Design Ron Arad - Damiani
By Ron Arad, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Ron Arad Model: Where Are My Glasses 777.50 Collection: Where Are My Glasses Made in: Italy Create a magical atmosphere with a unique Murano glass piece. Where...
Glass
Venini Puzzle 787.20 Talpa/Corallo Murano Glass Vase Ettore Sottsass Damiani
By Ettore Sottsass, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Ettore Sottsass Model: Puzzle 787.20 Collection: Ettore Sottsass Collection Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vas...
Glass
Venini Happy Pills 027.29 Glass Sculpture, Yellow Amber & Milk - Fabio Novembre
By Fabio Novembre, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Fabio Novembre Model: Happy Pills 027.29 Collection: Happy Pills Made in: Italy Create a magical atmosphere with a unique piece of Murano glass. The Happy Pill...
Glass
Venini Bloom 696.03 Acquamare/Corallo - Glass Centerpiece Marco Piva - Damiani
By Marco Piva, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Marco Piva Model: Bloom 696.03 Collection: Bloom Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glass center...
Glass
Venini Ando Time 032.98 Rosato/Violet/Amber Glass Hourglass Tadao Ando - Damiani
By Tadao Ando, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Tadao Ando Model: Ando Time 032.98 Collection: Tadao Ando Collection Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this unique...
Glass
Venini Murrine Romane 520.22 Carlo Scarpa - Glass Vase Damiani
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Carlo Scarpa Model: Murrine Romane 520.22 Collection: Murrine Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano...
Glass
21st Century Clessidra Hourglass in Red/Straw-Yellow by Fulvio Bianconi E Paolo
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in murano, IT
Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so real, like time ticking away. In 1957, Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini captured time and shaped it into Clessidr...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.22 Medium - Viola - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Opaline 706.22 - Medium Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano gla...
Glass
21st Century Large Clessidra Hourglass in Grey/Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so real, like time ticking away. Clessidra – designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini in 1957 – evolves in 2015,...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.38 Small - Verde Mela - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Opaline 706.38 - Small Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glas...
Glass
21st Century Labuan Glass Vase in Grey by Venini Riedizione
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Drawing inspiration from exotic destinations in the Far East, Paolo Venini opted for a rich and intense color palette to present the Labuan vase to the world, sure to impress. A jour...
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 700.00 Large Lilla Menta - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi - Damian
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Handkerchief 700.00 - Large Collection: Handkerchief Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your int...
Glass
Venini Bollicine 343.25 Lilac - Set of 2 Champagne Glasses - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Bubbles 343.25 Collection: Bubbles Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your table with our elegant Murano glassware. These champagne coupe...
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 700.00 Large Iceberg - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi - Damiani
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Handkerchief 700.00 - Large Collection: Handkerchief Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your int...
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 700.04 Small Iceberg - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi - Damiani
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Handkerchief 700.04 - Small Collection: Handkerchief Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your int...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.24 Large - Iceberg - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Opaline 706.24 - Large Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glas...
Glass
Venini Ando Time 032.98 Green/Aquamarine Glass Hourglass Tadao Ando - Damiani
By Tadao Ando, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Tadao Ando Model: Ando Time 032.98 Collection: Tadao Ando Collection Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this unique...
Glass
Venini Where Are My Glasses 777.50 Glass Vase, Erba - Ron Arad - Damiani
By Ron Arad, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Ron Arad Model: Where Are My Glasses 777.50 Collection: Where Are My Glasses Made in: Italy Create a magical atmosphere with a unique Murano glass piece. Where...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton 100.16 Small Sapphire - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Monofiori Balloton 100.16 - Small Collection: Monofiori Balloton Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glas...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton Frozen 100.18 Medium Crystal - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Monofiori Balloton 100.18 - Medium Collection: Monofiori Balloton Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano gla...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton 100.29 Large Apple Green - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Monofiori Balloton 100.29 - Large Collection: Monofiori Balloton Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glas...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton 100.18 Medium Ginkgo Biloba - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Monofiori Balloton 100.18 - Medium Collection: Monofiori Balloton Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano gla...
Glass
21st Century Monofiori Balloton Medium Glass Vase in Horizon/Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
It looks soft, but it’s not; it’s glass. The optical illusion of Monofiori by VENINI from 1970 lies in its name: Balloton, a special technique that lends a unique matelassé effect to...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.24 Large - Black - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Opaline 706.24 - Large Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glas...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton 100.29 Large Acquamare - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Monofiori Balloton 100.29 - Large Collection: Monofiori Balloton Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glas...
Glass
Venini Labuan 706.62 Large Taupe - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Labuan 706.62 Collection: Labuan Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase. Stories and mysteries o...
Glass
Venini Labuan 706.62 Large Indigo - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Collection: Labuan Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase. Stories and mysteries of the Orient come alive. Dreams of dis...
Glass
Venini Deco 707.07 Medium Pesca - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Napoleon Martinuzzi Model: Deco 707.07 - Medium Collection: Deco Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Mur...
Glass
Venini Frozen 707.10 Medium Crystal - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Napoleon Martinuzzi Model: Frozen 707.10 - Medium Collection: Deco Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your home with this iconic Muran...
Glass
Venini Deco 707.10 Large Iceberg - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Napoleon Martinuzzi Model: Deco 707.10 - Large Collection: Deco Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Mura...
Glass
Venini Deco 707.08 Small Iceberg - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Napoleon Martinuzzi Model: Deco 707.08 - Small Collection: Deco Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Mura...
Glass
Venini Gran Bulbo 699.60 Tea/Crystal/Gold Leaf - Glass Vase Peter Marino Damiani
By Peter Marino, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Peter Marino Model: Grand Bulb 699.60 Collection: Peter Marino Collection Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your home with this iconi...
Glass
Venini Frozen 707.08 Small Crystal - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Napoleon Martinuzzi Model: Frozen 707.08 - Small Collection: Deco Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your home with this iconic Murano...
Glass
Venini Deco 707.10 Large Black - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Napoleon Martinuzzi Model: Deco 707.10 - Large Collection: Deco Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Mura...
Glass
Venini Deco 707.08 Small Black - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Napoleon Martinuzzi Model: Deco 707.08 - Small Collection: Deco Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Mura...
Glass
Venini Tiara 706.66 Ambra/Orizzonte - Glass Vase - Francesco Lucchese - Damiani
By Francesco Lucchese, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Francesco Lucchese Model: Tiara 706.66 Collection: Tiara Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glas...
Glass
Venini Kukinto Glass Vase - Design Timo Sarpaneva - Damiani
By Venini, Timo Sarpaneva
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Timo Sarpaneva Model: Kukinto Collection: Kukinto Year: 1991 Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase. The Kukinto ...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.22 Medium Gold Leaf/Crystal - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Opaline 706.22 - Medium Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano gla...
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 700.04 Small Ambra - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi - Damiani
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Handkerchief 700.04 - Small Collection: Handkerchief Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your int...
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 700.02 Medium Ambra - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi - Damiani
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Handkerchief 700.02 - Medium Collection: Handkerchief Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your in...
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 700.04 Small Viola - Glass Vase - Fulvio Bianconi - Damiani
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Handkerchief 700.04 Collection: Handkerchief Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior wi...
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 700.00 Large Horizon - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi - Damiani
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Handkerchief 700.00 - Large Collection: Handkerchief Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your int...
Glass
Venini Hourglass 420.06 Glass Hourglass Aquamarine & Talpa - Damiani
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Hourglass 420.06 Collection: Hourglass Year: 1957 Made in: Italy Create a magical atmosphere with a unique piece of Muran...
Glass
Venini Vase 516.13 Ambra Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Tobia Scarpa & Ludovico Diaz De Santilliana Model: Vase 516.13 Collection: Beats / Canoes Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your inte...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.38 Small - Paraiba - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Opaline 706.38 - Small Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glas...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.38 Small - Ginkgo Biloba - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Opaline 706.38 - Small Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glas...
Glass
Venini Black Belt Plate 699.71 Black Murano Glass Plate Peter Marino - Damiani
By Venini, Peter Marino
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Peter Marino Model: Flat Black Belt 699.71 Collection: Peter Marino Collection Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your home with this ...
Glass
Venini Ando Time 032.98 Grape/Orizzonte/Bamboo Glass Hourglass Tadao Ando Damiani
By Tadao Ando, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Tadao Ando Model: Ando Time 032.98 Collection: Tadao Ando Collection Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this unique...
Glass
Venini Giotto 018.79 Black Murano Glass Sculpture Alessandro Mendini - Damiani
By Alessandro Mendini, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Alessandro Mendini Model: Giotto 018.79 Collection: Giotto Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano gl...
Glass
Venini Battuto Bicolor 785.00 Verdognolo/Rosso Glass Vase Carlo Scarpa Damiani
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Carlo Scarpa Model: Wrought Two-Tone 785.00 Collection: Two-tone wrought Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this unique Murano glass object...
Glass
Large table lamp by Venini, Italy 1950-1960
By Venini
Located in Renens, CH
Large table lamp signed Venini 1950-1960. The sage-colored Murano glass lamp base is shaped like a large vase. The neck is topped with a double socket structure in gilded brass. Th...
Murano Glass
Venini Vase 516.13 Verde Rio Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Venini, Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Tobia Scarpa & Ludovico Diaz De Santilliana Model: Vase 516.13 Collection: Beats / Canoes Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your inte...
Glass
21st Century Bolle Glass Vase in Améthyste / Grey by Tapio Wirkkala
By Venini, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in murano, IT
A vase turns into a graceful bottle. Grey meets Amethyst. Two distinct spaces of colour created by Tapio Wirkkala that blend together thanks to the "Incalmo" technique, a process by ...
Glass
Venini I Paladini 789.20 Multicolor Murano Glass design Emmanuel Babled Damiani
By Emmanuel Babled, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Designer: Emmanuel Babled Model: The Paladins 789.20 Collection: The Paladins Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this unique ...
Glass
Venini Husband and Wife 015.21 Glass Sculpture - Design Ettore Sottsass - Damiani
By Ettore Sottsass, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Ettore Sottsass Model: Husband and Wife 015.21 Collection: Ettore Sottsass Collection Made in: Italy Create a magical atmosphere with a unique Murano glass pie...
Marble
Venini Battuto a Nido d'Ape 524.26 Pg. Murano Glass Vase Carlo Scarpa - Damiani
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Venini Design: Carlo Scarpa Model: Honeycomb Wrought 524.26 Collection: Honeycomb Wrought Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase...
Glass