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.
$2,230 / item
Venini Labuan 706.01 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
Venini Ando Time 032.98 Grape/Red/Alessand. Glass Hourglass Tadao Ando - Damiani
By Venini, Tadao Ando
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Opalino 706.24 Large - Verde Mela - 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 Paladini Celati 789.21 Glass Sculpture design Emmanuel Babled Damiani
By Venini, Emmanuel Babled
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Emmanuel Babled Model: Paladini Celati 789.21 Collection: Paladins Celati Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this u...
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 Murrine Opache 488.10 Murano Glass Centerpiece Carlo Scarpa - Damiani
By Venini, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Carlo Scarpa Model: Opaque Murrine 488.10 Collection: Murrine Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this unique Murano...
Glass
Venini Murrine Opache 488.11 Murano Glass Centerpiece table Carlo Scarpa Damiani
By Venini, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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
Venini Puzzle 787.20 Talpa/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
Venini Where Are My Glasses 777.50 Glass Vase, Red - Design 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 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 Happy Pills 027.29 Glass Sculpture, Yellow Amber & Milk - 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
Italian Murano Glass Vase Gonzaga Model by Emmanuel Babled for Venini
By Emmanuel Babled, Venini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Glass vase designed by Emmanuel Babled and produced by Venini, 1994s. Signed. With original label. Biography Born in France in 1967, Emmanuel Babled graduated in 1989 from Industria...
Murano Glass
Sergio Asti Demodè Vase for Venini, Murano Glass, Italy, 1968
By Sergio Asti, Venini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Vase from the Demodè series Lactime blown glass with polychrome glass inclusions. Venini, ca. 1968 Historic Venini adhesive label. Signature engraved under the base Bibliography: F....
Murano Glass
Venini Ando Time 032.98 Grape/Orizzonte/Bamboo Glass Hourglass Tadao Ando Damiani
By Venini, Tadao Ando
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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
Italian Murano Glass Vase Gonzaga Model by Emmanuel Babled for Venini
By Emmanuel Babled, Venini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Glass vase designed by Emmanuel Babled and produced by Venini, 1994s. Signed. With original label. Biography Born in France in 1967, Emmanuel Babled graduated in 1989 from Industria...
Murano 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
Italian Murano Glass Vase Simira Model by Alessandro Mendini for Venini.
By Alessandro Mendini, Venini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Vase model Simira filigree glass and solid glass base molded to the wheel, circa 1987- 1988. Signed. Biography Alessandro Mendini was born in Milan in 1931. After a long experience...
Glass
21st Century Opalino Large Glass Vase in Aquamarine by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
The Opalino vase is all about sophisticated and unique colors, thanks to the use of the traditional Opalino technique. This method was first introduced in the 15th century to make gl...
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 Murrine Romane 520.20 design Carlo Scarpa - Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Carlo Scarpa Model: Roman Murrine 520.20 Collection: Murrine Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano ...
Glass
Venini Battuto a Nido d'Ape 524.26 Pesca Murano Glass Vase Carlo Scarpa /Damiani
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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
Soldato Di Vetro Glass and 18k Gold Sculpture by Alessandro Mendini for Venini
By Alessandro Mendini, Venini
Located in murano, IT
"The fine, elongated and ambiguos shape of their eyes on the colored background has them looking thoughtfully at our complicated world. The similar shape of their mounth hints at a w...
Gold
21st Century Coccio Glass Vase in Ivory/Tea by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
It should belong to the Paleolithic collection of a Museum of Prehistory. A mysterious artifact smuggled by some art dealer. A modern archeological discovery made from murrine in 198...
Glass
Venini Opalino 706.24 Large - Blu Mare - 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 Murrine Romane 520.22 Carlo Scarpa - Glass Vase Damiani
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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
Venini Goburam 012.97 Coral/Notturno Murano Glass Ettore Sottsass - Damiani
By Ettore Sottsass, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Ettore Sottsass Model: Goburam 012.97 Collection: Ettore Sottsass Collection Made in: Italy Add an artistic and expressive touch to your interior with this i...
Glass
Venini Monofiori Balloton 100.16 Small Sapphire - 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 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 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 100.29 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 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 100.29 Large Crystal - 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 100.29 Large Acquamare - 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 Opalino 706.38 Small - Blu Mare - 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 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 Fazzoletto 700.00 Large Lilla Menta - Glass Vase Fulvio Bianconi - Damian
By Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Ando Time 032.98 Rosato/Violet/Amber Glass Hourglass Tadao Ando - Damiani
By Tadao Ando, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Frozen 707.10 Medium Crystal - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
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 Fazzoletto 700.04 Small Iceberg - 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 Opalino 706.38 Small - Verde Mela - 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 Deco 707.07 Medium Pesca - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
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 Deco 707.10 Large Iceberg - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
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
Venini Deco 707.08 Small Iceberg - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
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 706.22 Medium - Viola - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Deco 707.10 Large Black - Glass Vase - Napoleone Martinuzzi - Damiani
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
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
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 Opalino 706.22 Medium Gold Leaf/Crystal - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Opalino 706.24 Large - Iceberg - 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 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 Fazzoletto 700.04 Small 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 700.04 - Small Collection: Handkerchief Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your int...
Glass
Venini Ando Time 032.98 Green/Aquamarine Glass Hourglass Tadao Ando - Damiani
By Tadao Ando, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Fazzoletto 700.04 Small Viola - Glass Vase - Fulvio Bianconi - Damiani
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini Model: Handkerchief 700.04 Collection: Handkerchief Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior wi...
Glass
Venini Where Are My Glasses 777.50 Glass Vase, Erba - Ron Arad - Damiani
By Ron Arad, Venini
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 Opalino 706.22 Medium - Black - Murano Glass Vase - Damiani
By Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Kukinto Glass Vase - Design Timo Sarpaneva - Damiani
By Timo Sarpaneva, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Black Belt Plate 699.71 Black Murano Glass Plate Peter Marino - Damiani
By Peter Marino, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Vase 516.13 Ambra Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Venini, Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Giotto 018.79 Black Murano Glass Sculpture Alessandro Mendini - Damiani
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 I Paladini 789.20 Multicolor Murano Glass design Emmanuel Babled Damiani
By Emmanuel Babled, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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 Vase 516.13 Verde Rio Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Venini, Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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