Venini Centerpiece Murano Glass, 1940, Italy
By Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Centerpiece VENINI.
Category
1940s Other Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Centerpieces
Italian
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.
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Creator: Venini
Midcentury Black Vase Sergio Asti Style for Venini Blown Murano Glass
By Sergio Asti, Venini
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Black vase Sergio Asti style for Venini in blown Murano glass, circa 1960s. Measure cm: H 28 Diameter 30.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
1970s Venini Blue Murano Glass Empty Pocket Catchall Tray Centerpiece, Italy
By Venini
Located in Nicolosi, IT
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Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Tapio Wirkkala for Venini Murano glass centerpiece/bowl "Coreano" 90
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Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great simple design bowl by the well known artis/ designer Tapio Wirkkala. made for Venini , dated 90, signed
Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fulvio Bianconi Murano Gray Opalino Italian Art Glass Sculptural Vase
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Venini Fulvio Bianconi Murano Gray Opalino Italian Art Glass Sculptural Vase
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Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown blue gray, opaline Italian art glass handkerchief sculptural vase. Documented to designer Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. The piece is...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
Tapio Wirkkala Murano Venini Centerpiece / bowl "Inari" signed
By Tapio Wirkkala, Venini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice murano glass work and gold leaf inclusions in this amazing Tapio Wirkkala centerpiece , signed dated 90.
Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Centerpiece Murano Glass, 1950, Italy
By Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Venini centerpiece Murano glass, 1950, Italy.
Category
1950s Italian Other Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Murano Glass Centerpiece, Italy, Mid-Century, 20\" Diameter
By Venini
Located in Naples, IT
Glass ashtray or centrepiece worked with the submerged glass technique. Production: Venini, Italy.
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Empty Pockets Murano Glass, 1950, Italy
By Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Venini Empty pockets murano glass 1950 Italy.
Category
1950s Italian Other Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Fulvio Bianconi for Venini Iridescent Murano Glass Cornucopia, circa 1950
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Here is an elegant iridescent glass Cornucopia designed by Fulvio Bianconi (1915–1996) for Venini, Murano, Italy, circa 1950. We believe the model number is 4257. The traditional ho...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Art Glass
Venini Murano Glass Centerpiece Handkerchief “Filigrana”, 1955, Italy
By Venini
Located in Milano, IT
Venini Murano glass centerpiece handkerchief “Filigrana”, 1955, Italy.
Category
1950s Italian Other Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Mid-Century Modern Venini Centerpiece Murano Black Glass Layered Glass White
By Venini
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Mid-Century Modern Venini centerpiece Murano black glass, layered glass white the two little. Big one measure cm: H 7 Diam. 47 thickness 6mm Little one measure cm: H 3.8 Diam. ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Signed Venini Murano Blue Birds Doves Designed by Tyra Lundgren
By Venini
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Designed by Tyra Lundgren circa 1930s, this signed pair of whimsical full sized doves was made by Venini in Murano, Italy. The pair are well proportioned, each one unique in design i...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Art Glass
Italian Murano Low Bowl by Charles Lin Tissot for Venini
By Charles Lin Tissot, Venini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Low bowl with inclined walls in zanfirico glass designed by Charles Lin Tissot and produced by Venini in 1980. Signed. Biography Charles Lin Tissot (1904-1994), the American designe...
Category
1880s Italian Modern Antique Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Bloom 696.03 Red/Crystal/Coral Glass Centerpiece Marco Piva Damiani
By Marco Piva, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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...
Category
2010s Italian Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Glass
Venini Bloom 696.03 Acquamare/Corallo - Glass Centerpiece Marco Piva - Damiani
By Marco Piva, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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...
Category
2010s Italian Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Glass
Three 1950s Venini Spiraling Obelisks
$12,500 / set
Three 1950s Venini Spiraling Obelisks
By Venini
Located in New York, NY
A set of three spiraling clear-glass obelisks with red flame-like intrusions by Venini. All bearing faint acid-etched stamps that date them to the 1950s. They are 17, 14 1/4, and 14...
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Glass
Venini Bloom 696.03 Black/Crystal - Glass Centerpiece Marco Piva - Damiani
By Marco Piva, Venini
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
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...
Category
2010s Italian Venini Centerpieces
Materials
Glass
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Venini centerpieces for sale on 1stDibs.
Venini centerpieces are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Venini centerpieces, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original centerpieces by Venini were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider centerpieces by Archimede Seguso, Ercole Barovier, and Alfredo Barbini. Prices for Venini centerpieces can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,166 and can go as high as $12,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,175.
Creators Similar to Venini
Questions About Venini Centerpieces
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify Venini glass, first look for markings, usually found on the base or interior of glassware. Over its long history, Venini used dozens of labels and acid-stamped marks on its pieces. You can find images of these marks on the pages of trusted online resources to compare to your piece. Keep in mind that Venini's foil labels tend to come off over the years, so a lack of a marking or label doesn't necessarily mean that your piece is not a Venini. However, there are many convincing replicas of Venini glassware. As a result, experts recommend consulting a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer for assistance with the identification process, especially if you can't locate a label or acid mark. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Venini glass.
Where is Venini glass made?
1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025Venini glass is made in Italy. Specifically, its workshop is on the Venetian island of Murano. 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 skilled artisans who created extraordinary chandeliers, sconces and other lighting in the centuries-old glass workshops. 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, Tapio Wirkkala, Thomas Stearns and Fulvio Bianconi. Shop a variety of Venini glass on 1stDibs.