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 Bolle 503.00 Glass Vase, Pink, Green & Red - Tapio Wirkkala - Damiani
By Venini, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Design: Tapio Wirkkala Model: Bubbles 503.00 Collection: Bubbles Year: 1966 Made in: Italy Create a magical atmosphere with a unique piece of Murano glass. The Bolle c...
Glass
Venini Ceiling Light/Sconce Murano Glass Brass, 1940, Italy
By Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Venini ceiling light/sconce Murano glass brass, 1940, Italy.
Murano Glass
Venini Large Opalino Vase, 1970s
By Venini
Located in Parma, IT
Large Opalino vase by Venini, 1970s. In opaline incmicito blown glass, engraved signature and label. In excellent condition.
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 700.04 Small Lilla Menta - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi Damiani
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Chandelier Yellow Glass Iron Brass, 1955, Italy
By Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Chandelier Venini yellow glass iron brass, 1955, Italy.
Murano Glass
Venini Gran Bulbo 699.60 Tea/Crystal/Gold Leaf - Glass Vase Peter Marino Damiani
By Venini, Peter Marino
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Battery Lamp in Orange, Rechargeable, Dimmerable, Touch
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Skillful glasswork gives back this object a slight movement, as if it were suspended in space. Its iconic silhouette comes from an exclusive archival prototype and brings a playful t...
Metal
21st Century Monofiori Balloton Small Glass Vase in Aquamarine/Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Monofiori breaks with tradition in 1970 and then does it again in 2016. But its essence remains the same: it looks soft, but it’s not; it’s glass. The optical illusion of Monofiori b...
Glass
21st Century Monofiori Balloton Medium Glass Vase in Indigo/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 Labuan 706.01 Glossy Taupe - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Labuan 706.01 Collection: Labuan Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase. The Labuan collection ev...
Glass
21st Century Esprit Ceiling Light in Amber Yellow/Crystal by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Viewers feel compelled to touch every single petal of its flowers and every single point of its stars, to make sure they’re real. Esprit conveys the power of nature and of light. Esp...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton 100.29 Amber - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Monofiori Balloton 100.29 Collection: Monofiori Balloton Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase. ...
Glass
Important Large Chandelier Venini, Model Triedro, Murano, 1960
By Venini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
A beatiful and important chandelier with triedri element glass pendants (about 1000 pieces). Signed and stamped Venini in the metal structure.
Glass
Venini Satin 706.38 Small Te/Crystal - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Satin 706.38 - Small Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glass ...
Glass
Venini Acco 706.70 Ginkgo Biloba/Lattimo - Glass Vase Alessandro Mendini Damiani
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Alessandro Mendini Model: Acco 706.70 Collection: Acco Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glass ...
Glass
Venini Labuan 706.63 Medium Acquamare - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Labuan 706.63 - Medium Collection: Labuan Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase. The Labuan coll...
Glass
21st Century Murana Glass Vase in Wistaria by Fabio Novembre
By Venini, Fabio Novembre
Located in murano, IT
From Venetian masks to glass, Fabio Novembre adds a tinge of irony to the Fornace (Kiln), creating a work that has a face and a soul. Classic yet eccentric. Additional Information...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.38 Small - Black - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Anelli 542.00 Murano Glass Vase - Design Venini - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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
Paolo Venini Frosted Murano Art Glass Vase Manufactured by Venini Italy 1997
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Miami, FL
A heavy black and white Murano art glass vase designed by Artist Paolo Venini. Frosted Murano glass on the outside and in lined with black Murano glass. Signed and dated, MURANO MADE...
Murano Glass
Venini Ruri 782.51 Verde Mela - Glass Vase - design Nikolai Bergmann - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Nikolai Bergmann Model: Ruri 782.51 Collection: Homo Faber Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano gl...
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto 700.02 Medium Lilla Menta - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi Damiani
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Deco 707.08 Small Horizon - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Venini, Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Opalino 706.24 Large - Amethyst - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Puzzle 787.20 Acquamare/Corallo Murano Glass Vase Ettore Sottsass Damiani
By Venini, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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
$5,136 / item
21st Century Trilobi Wall Light in Crystal by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
They recall ice stalactites or pendant quartz formations unusually shaped in the form of long triangular strips of glass with rounded corners. All hud...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.24 Large - Viola - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Acco 706.70 Pesca/Lattimo - Glass Vase Alessandro Mendini - Damiani
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Alessandro Mendini Model: Acco 706.70 Collection: Acco Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glass ...
Glass
Venini Riflessi 793.91 Medium - Glass Vase - design Michela Cattai - Damiani
By Venini, Michela Cattai
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Michela Cattai Model: Reflections 793.91 - Medium Collection: Reflections Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this i...
Glass
21st Century Diamantei Large Chandeliers in Améthyste/Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Exquisitely Baroque in style, regal in appearance, and available in a variety of sizes and colors, it is the undisputed star of any setting. A series of alternating soft and sharp cu...
Glass
21st Century Black Belt Triangolo Extra Small Vase in Black/Crystal
By Venini, Peter Marino
Located in murano, IT
Appealing to the eye, to the touch and to the mind. This work by Peter Marino was designed to be the most provocative one in the Fornace (Kiln). Striking beauty. The Triangolo collec...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.38 Small Magenta - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Art Direction: Studio Marco Piva Model: Opaline 706.38 - Small Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your inte...
Glass
21st Century Murrine Romane Glass Bowl in Multicolour by Carlo Scarpa
By Venini, Carlo Scarpa
Located in murano, IT
In these murrineworks, purity of form and essential geometry blend together to create rare, precious and timeless objects, just like the art of ancient Rome. In his quest for new gla...
Glass
Venini Happy Pills 027.29 Glass Sculpture Horizon & Pagliesco - Fabio Novembre
By Fabio Novembre, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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
21st Century Carlo Scarpa 99.37 3-Light Wall Sconce in Crystal by Carlo Scarpa
By Venini, Carlo Scarpa
Located in murano, IT
An innovative designer with a passion for experimentation, Carlo Scarpa turned this work into the utmost expression of his artistic and artisanal knowledge. The linearity of glass me...
Glass
Venini Labuan 706.62 Large Lattimo - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Opalino 706.38 Small - Peach - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Diamantei Extra Large Chandeliers in Améthyste/Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Exquisitely Baroque in style, regal in appearance, and available in a variety of sizes and colors, it is the undisputed star of any setting. A series of alternating soft and sharp cu...
Glass
Venini Labuan 706.62 Large Taupe - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Monofiori Balloton 100.18 Medium Amber - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Nastri Large Chandeliers in Crystal by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Nastri is an orderly arranged path of glass that gives meaning to its own complexity. Regardless of its size, small or large, the structure is monumental in appearance, just as the l...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton 100.16 Small Purple - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Hourglass 420.06 Glass Hourglass, Moka & Crystal - Damiani
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Design: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Hourglass 420.06 Collection: Hourglass Year: 1957 Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Mura...
Glass
Venini Labuan 706.63 Medium Taupe - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Labuan 706.63 Collection: Labuan Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase. Stories and mysteries o...
Glass
21st Century Carlo Scarpa 99.37 16-Light Chandeliers in Crystal
By Venini, Carlo Scarpa
Located in murano, IT
An innovative designer with a passion for experimentation, Carlo Scarpa turned this work into the utmost expression of his artistic and artisanal knowledge. The linearity of glass me...
Glass
Venini Tiara 706.66 Ambra/Orizzonte - Glass Vase - Francesco Lucchese - Damiani
By Venini, Francesco Lucchese
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Fazzoletto 700.02 Medium Ambra - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi - Damiani
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Deco 707.07 Medium Iceberg - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Venini, Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Labuan 706.62 Large Indigo - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Satin 706.24 Large Te/Crystal - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Satin 706.24 - Large Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glass ...
Glass
Venini Where Are My Glasses 777.50 Glass Vase, Acquamare - Ron Arad - Damiani
By Venini, Ron Arad
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Labuan 706.62 Large Blush Pink - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Satin 706.38 Small Verde Rio/Gold Leaf/Crystal - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Satin 706.38 - Small Collection: Opaline Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glass ...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton 100.29 Large Purple - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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, Lombardia
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 Frozen 100.18 Medium Crystal - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Labuan 706.63 Medium Blush Pink - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Venini Model: Labuan 706.63 Collection: Labuan Made in: Italy Add an artistic touch to your home with this iconic Murano glass vase. Stories and mysteries o...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton 100.29 Large Apple Green - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Frozen 707.10 Medium Crystal - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi Damiani
By Venini, Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Venini, Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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