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.
Night in Venice Candleholder in Red Balloton Glass by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined Tea, Red, Grape or ...
Glass
Lele Candleholder in Transparent Red Balloton Glass by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Catfish candleholder in transparent red balloton glass by venini, 2020 Additional information: Material: Glass Color: Transparent red Dimension: Ø 8 x H 18 cm Candle provided.
Glass
Night in Venice Candleholder in Grape Balloton Glass by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined Tea, Red, Grape or ...
Glass
Night in Venice Candleholder in Grass Green Balloton Glass by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined tea, red, grape or ...
Glass
21st Century Night in Venice Glass Candleholder in Tea by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined Tea, Red, Grape or ...
Blown Glass
21st Century Faville Glass Candleholder in Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Shimmering in intense hues of Red or Grass Green, every Favilla is a unique glass creation crafted using the exclusive Balloton technique to enhance its sparkle. Candle included A...
Glass
21st Century Night in Venice Glass Candleholder in Amber by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Made in hand-finished blown glass, the transparent red NIGHT IN VENICE candleholder decorates the home, creating magic atmospheres: the warm and lumino...
Blown Glass
21st Century Lele Glass Candleholder in Amber by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Made in hand-finished blown glass, the transparent red LELE candleholder decorates the home, creating magic atmospheres: the warm and luminous glow of the flame reverberates through ...
Blown Glass
21st Century Lele Glass Candleholder in Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Made in hand-finished blown glass, the transparent red LELE candleholder decorates the home, creating magic atmospheres: the warm and luminous glow of the flame reverberates through ...
Blown Glass
21st Century Campana Candle Holder in Amber by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Candle holder in blown glass finished by hand, it adds a decorative touch to the home, creating magical atmospheres. Using the balloton technique, Venini’s master glassblowers impart...
Blown Glass
21st Century, Campana Candle Holder in Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Campana 100.75 Ø14 H11,5 RV/CR Additional information: Material: blown glass Color: red Dimensions: Ø 12 cm Available in other color options: Amber.
Blown Glass
21st Century, Campanile Candle Holder in Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Candle holder in blown glass finished by hand, it adds a decorative touch to the home, creating magical atmospheres.Using the balloton technique, Venini’s master glassblowers impart a unique cross...
Blown Glass
21st Century Night in Venice Glass Candleholder in Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined Tea, Red, Grape or ...
Blown Glass
21st Century Night in Venice Glass Candleholder in Grey by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Made in hand-finished blown glass, the transparent red NIGHT IN VENICE candleholder decorates the home, creating magic atmospheres: the warm and lumino...
Blown Glass
21st Century Night in Venice Glass Candleholder in Grape by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined Tea, Red, Grape or ...
Blown Glass
21st Century Night in Venice Glass Candleholder in Gras Green by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined Tea, Red, Grape or ...
Blown Glass
21st Century Faville Glass Candleholder in Red by Venini, 2019
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Shimmering in intense hues of red or grass green, every Favilla is a unique glass creation crafted using the exclusive Balloton technique to enhance its sparkle. Candle included A...
Glass
$169 / set
H 7.49 in Dm 2.56 in
21st Century Hand-Crafted Glass Candlesticks, Pink Color, Kanz Architetti
By kanz
Located in Venezia, Veneto
Tharros is the name of the city founded in Sardinia by the Phoenicians. Now a Roman archaeological area, it is famous for the presence of two columns that stand proudly in front of t...
Glass
21st Century Italian Sterling Silver 4 Lights Candelabra
By Arval Argenti Valenza
Located in VALENZA, IT
21st Century Italian Sterling Silver 4 Lights Candelabra 4 flame sterling silver candelabra. The base was made with the ella fusion technique and modeled with acanthus leaves. Subseq...
Sterling Silver
$920 / set
H 2.37 in W 6.3 in D 6.3 in
Venini Murano Glass Candlesticks, Soft Rose & Dark Green, 1970s Pair
By Venini
Located in Florence, Tuscany
A pair of beautiful Venini Murano glass candlesticks in a soft rose and dark green vetro sabbiato (frosted glass). These pieces were made in the late 1970s and have an internal brass...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$169 / set
H 7.49 in Dm 2.56 in
21st Century Hand-crafted Glass Candlesticks, Blue color, Kanz Architetti
By kanz
Located in Venezia, Veneto
Tharros is the name of the city founded in Sardinia by the Phoenicians. Now a Roman archaeological area, it is famous for the presence of two columns that stand proudly in front of t...
Glass
Glass Candleholder by Le Lampade
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Glass Candleholder by Le Lampade Handmade in Italy .
Art Glass
$3,633Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 56 in W 30 in D 15 in
Pair of green Moroccan candleholders in green Tamegroute ceramic
By Maison de l'Art Nouveau
Located in Valladolid, ES
Exquisite pair of glazed ceramic vases from Tamegroute, a village located in the Draa River Valley, in southern Morocco. Historically, it served as a center of learning and religion ...
Ceramic
Lotus Pink Glass Candleholder by Summerill & Bishop
By Casarialto
Located in Milan, IT
A superb design masterfully handcrafted of mouth-blown glass, this candle holder is created in co-creation with Summerill and Bishop London. From the sketch of Summerill and Bishop L...
Glass
$298 / item
H 1.38 in W 3.15 in D 4.73 in
21st Century Federico Peri Candleholder Stripe Murano Glass Brass Various Colors
By Federico Peri, Purho Murano
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Federico Peri candleholder stripe, in Murano glass, brass, various colors. Lumino is the only object in the collection where the materials are split 50/50 between glass ...
Brass
$297 / item
H 1.38 in W 3.15 in D 4.73 in
21st Century Federico Peri Candleholder Satin Murano Glass Brass Various Colors
By Purho Murano, Federico Peri
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st Century, design Federico Peri, Candleholder Satin, in Murano Glass, Various Colors. Lumino is the only object in the collection where the materials are split 50/50 between glass and metal. It is a small glass candleholder, resting on a brass tray. The upper surface of the glass is glossy and allows a perfect view of the murrina glass rods, while the lateral surface is engraved vertically with stripes in Lumino Stripe, or sanitized, leaving only a glimpse of the evanescent internal murrina in Lumino Satin. The oblong tray...
Brass
$862 / item
H 7.09 in Dm 2.37 in
21st Century Federico Peri Candlestick Linear Murano Glass Brass Various Colors
By Purho Murano, Federico Peri
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century, design Federico Peri, candlestick Satinated in Murano glass, various colors. Lume is a blown glass and satinated brass candlestick available in two different variants: Lume Linear and Lume Plissé. The glass, prevalent material made with the same technique as the submerged glass of the ashtrays and Lumino, is proposed by combining two distinct finishes: in Lume Plissé the wide vertical pleating - similar to a cog wheel...
Brass
$1,015 / item
H 7.09 in Dm 2.37 in
21st Century Federico Peri Candlestick Plissé Murano Glass Brass Various Colors
By Federico Peri, Purho Murano
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century, design Federico Peri, candlestick Plissé in Murano glass, various colors. Lume is a blown glass and satinated brass candlestick available in two different variants: Lume linear and Lume Plissé. The glass, prevalent material made with the same technique as the submerged glass of the ashtrays and Lumino, is proposed by combining two distinct finishes: in Lume Plissé the wide vertical pleating - similar to a cog wheel...
Brass
21st Century Gemme Glass Vase in Grass Green by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
In the expert hands of the blowers, glass turns into precious gemstones of various colours – Green, Grass Green, Purple, Red, Aquamarine, Sapphire, Tea and Grey. Unique and sparkling...
Glass
Fasce Ritorte Hurricane Lamp by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, Italy, 1950
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Vienna, AT
Fasce Ritorte Hurricane lamp by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini. Handblown clear glass with blue, green and red swirling stripes. The clear glass candle holder...
Glass