Venini & C. 1932–2001

In 1932, when both Martinuzzi and Zecchin left the company, Paolo Venini changed the name from Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & Co. (V.S.M. Venini & Co.) to Venini & C.. Milanese architect Tommaso Buzzi became the new artistic director.

After 1934, artistic direction was taken on by Carlo Scarpa, who designed most of the company’s production through 1947. Side by side with Venini, who often intervened personally in design, Scarpa created numerous collections of objects characterized by refined colors. After World War II, Venini & C. sought numerous collaborations with artists such as architect Giò Ponti and the Swedish-born Tyra Lundgren. After 1948, Fulvio Bianconi, Massimo Vignelli, and Tobia Scarpa contributed significantly to the new direction of the company.

Paolo Venini died in 1959 and his son-in-law, Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, took over the management of Venini & C. He not only worked personally as a glass designer but also continued the collaboration started by Paolo Venini with various artists and designers. Starting in 1960, many other designers collaborated with the company, like Thomas Stearns, Toni Zuccheri, Tapio Wirkkala, Laura and Alessandro Diaz de Santillana, James Carpenter, Dan Dailey, Richard Marquis, Benjamin Moore, and Toots Zynsky. In 1986, the de Santillana family left the company, selling their stock to the Ferruzzi group, which guaranteed the fine quality Venini was known for by hiring new designers such as Timo Sarpaneva, Marco Zanini, Ettore Sottsass Jr., Alessandro Mendini, Mario Bellini, Barbara del Vicario, and others.

In 1988, Venini was acquired by Royal Scandinavian. Since 2001, Venini S.p.A. has been part of Italian Luxury Industries Group and is led by Giancarlo Chimento, Giuliano Tabacchi, and Giorgio Rizzo.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Fulvio Bianconi, Venini & C., 1951
Fulvio Bianconi
A spicchi, 1951

Fulvio Bianconi   A spicchiVenini & C., 1951

Bowl in glass with turquoise, amethyst, gray, and clear cristallo spicchi (sections).

Original paper label.
5 1/2 in. high (14 cm)
Exhibitions:
1951, Milan, 9th Triennale;
1952, Venice, 26th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, grey catalogue, nn. 4896;
Vetri. Quaderni…, 1951, p. 84;
Domus, 1959, December, p. 42;
Venini & Murano…, n. 57;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, n. 182;
M. Heiremans, 1989, n. 227;
R. Bossaglia, 1993, n. 32;
M. Barovier, 1994, n. 23;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 119;
M. Heiremans, 1996, n. 110;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1999, n. 162;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 120.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Fulvio Bianconi, Venini & C., 1950
Fulvio Bianconi
Margherite, 1950

Fulvio Bianconi   MargheriteVenini & C., 1950

Vase in thick clear cristallo glass decorated with a daisy motif murrine of lattimo and amethyst glass. The vase is part of a very limited series commissioned by a client in Paris in the 1950s.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
13 5/8 in. high (34.6 cm)

Exhibitions:
1951, Milan, 9th Triennale;
1952, Venice, 26th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Vetri. Quaderni….1951, p. 88;
M. Heiremans, 1989, n. 190;
M. Heiremans, 1993, n. 216;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 119.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Fulvio Bianconi, Venini & C., 1950
Fulvio Bianconi
A macchie, 1950

Fulvio Bianconi   A macchieVenini & C., 1950

Vase composed of cristallo glass decorated with an abstract pattern obtained by the inclusion of aubergine macchie (stains) of glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
9 7/8 in. high (25.1 cm)
Exhibitions:
1950, Venice, 25th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
1951, Milan, 9th Triennale;
1952, Venice, 26th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, grey catalogue, n. 4324;
A. Gasparetto, 1960, n. 37;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 116;
G. Duplani Tucci, 1989, n. 36;
M. Heiremans, 1993, n. 218;
R. Bossaglia, 1993, n. 34;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 83;
F. Deboni, 1996, p. 74, n. 212;
M. Heiremans, 1996, n. 89;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, nn. 73, 74;
Venini Venezia, 1998, p. 71;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 227;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 83;
R. Reif, New York Times, 2000, p. 39;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 118.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Fulvio Bianconi, Paolo Venini, Venini & C., ca. 1950
Fulvio Bianconi
Paolo Venini
Fazzoletto, ca. 1950

Fulvio BianconiPaolo Venini   FazzolettoVenini & C., ca. 1950

A handkerchief shaped vessel crafted with zanfirico lattimo canes of glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
11 1/4 in. high (28.6 cm)
Exhibitions:
1952, Venice, 26th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, grey catalogue, n. 2986;
Domus, October, 1951, p. 29;
R. Aloi, 1952, n. 29;
G. Ponti, 1959, p. 38;
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 649;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1982, n. 323;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, n. 75;
R. Bossaglia, 1993, nn. 17, 20;
M. Barovier, 1994, nn. 14, 15;
F. Deboni, 1996, nn. 206, 207;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, nn. 130, 132;
M. Heiremans, 1996, n. 84;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, n. 69;
M. Barovier, 1998 (b), p. 231;
Venini Venezia, 1998, p. 68;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 231;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 82;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 117.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Fulvio Bianconi, Paolo Venini, Venini & C., ca. 1950
Fulvio Bianconi
Paolo Venini
Fazzoletto, ca. 1950

Fulvio BianconiPaolo Venini   FazzolettoVenini & C., ca. 1950

A handkerchief shaped vessel crafted with zanfirico lattimo canes of glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
11 1/4 in. high (28.6 cm)
Exhibitions:
1952, Venice, 26th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, grey catalogue, nn. 4217, 1158;
Domus, October, 1951, p. 29;
R. Aloi, 1952, n. 29;
G. Ponti, 1959, p. 38;
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 649;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1982, n. 323;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, n. 75;
R. Bossaglia, 1993, nn. 17, 20;
M. Barovier, 1994, nn. 14, 15;
F. Deboni, 1996, nn. 206, 207;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, nn. 130, 132; M. Heiremans, 1996, n. 84; H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, n. 69; M. Barovier, 1998 (b), p. 231;
Venini Venezia, 1998, p. 68;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 231;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 82;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 116.