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
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1940
Carlo Scarpa
Battuti, 1940

Carlo Scarpa   BattutiVenini & C., 1940

Three glass vases, one black, one yellow and one white in lattimo.
All three are cased in straw-colored glass with their entire surfaces finished at the carving wheel.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
16 1/4 in. high (41.2 cm)
7 5/8 in. high (19.4 cm)
14 1/4 in. high (36.2 cm)
Exhibitions:
1940, Venice, 22nd Biennale Internazionale d’Arte; 1940, Milan,
7th Triennale; 2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design; 2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu,
Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, blue catalogue, nn. 3919, 3943 A, 3939; G. Ponti, 1940, p. 70;
R. Aloi, 1945, nn. 10, 13;
M. Brusatin, 1972, p. 24;
Carlo Scarpa…, 1984, p. 185;
La verrerie…, 1988, p. 117;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 58-63;
M. Barovier, 1991, nn. 23, 32;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1992, n. 69;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 54;
F. Deboni, 1996, n. 193;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, nn. 42.43;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 219;
M. Barovier, 1998 (b), p. 27;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 187;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 64;
R. Reif, New York Times, 2000, p. 39;

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1940
Carlo Scarpa
Velato, 1940

Carlo Scarpa   VelatoVenini & C., 1940

A bowl in thin, light, straw-colored glass. The entire surface is finely ground to obtain a satin finish.

Acid stamped:
venini murano.
4 5/16 in. high (11 cm)
Ø; 7 1/2 in. (19 cm)
Exhibitions:
1940, Venice, 22nd Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
1940, Milan, 7th Triennale;
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu,
Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, blue catalogue, n. 3766;
G. Ponti, 1940, p. 71;
C.E. Rava, 1943, p. 131;
F. Deboni, 1989, p. 24;
M. Barovier, 1991, n. 33;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 217;
M. Barovier, 1998 (b), p. 28;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 63;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 98.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1940
Carlo Scarpa
Battuti, 1940

Carlo Scarpa   BattutiVenini & C., 1940

Vessel in red trasparente glass and bowl in green trasparente glass, both finished with battitura at the carving wheel over the entire surface.

Acid stamped:
venini murano
MADE IN ITALY
.
3 3/4 in. high (9.5 cm)
4 7/16 in. high (11.3 cm)

Exhibitions:
1940, Venice, 22nd Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
1940, Milan, 7th Triennale;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu,
Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, blue catalogue, n. 3774;
G. Ponti, 1940, p. 70;
R. Aloi, 1945, nn. 10, 13;
G. Ponti, 1959, p. 54;
M. Brusatin, 1972, p. 24;
Carlo Scarpa…, 1984, p. 185;
La verrerie…, 1988, p. 117;
F. Deboni, 1989, nn. 58-63;
M. Barovier, 1991, nn. 23, 32;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1992, n. 69;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 54;
F. Deboni, 1996, n. 193;
A. Bettagno, 1996, nn. 98-104;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, nn. 42, 43;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 219;
M. Barovier, 1998 (a), p. 27;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 187;
Venini. Catalogo…, 1999, n. 135;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 97.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1940
Carlo Scarpa
Battuto, 1940

Carlo Scarpa   BattutoVenini & C., 1940

Vase in trasparente blue glass finished with battitura etched at the wheel over the entire surface.

13 in. high (33 cm)
Exhibitions:
1940, Venice, 22nd Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
1940, Milan, 7th Triennale;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu,
Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, blue catalogue, n. 3791;
G. Ponti, 1940, p. 70;
R. Aloi, 1945, nn. 10, 13;
M. Brusatin, 1972, p. 24;
Carlo Scarpa…, 1984, p. 185;
La verrerie…, 1988, p. 117;
F. Deboni, 1989, nn. 58-63;
M. Barovier, 1991, nn. 23, 32;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1992, n. 69;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 54;
F. Deboni, 1996, n. 193;
A. Bettagno, 1996, nn. 98-104;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, nn. 42, 43;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 219;
M. Barovier, 1998 (a), p. 27;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 187;
Venini. Catalogo…, 1999, n. 135;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 96.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1940
Carlo Scarpa
Battuto, 1940

Carlo Scarpa   BattutoVenini & C., 1940

Transparent amethyst vase, surface finished with light horizontal carvings.

13 5/16 in. high (33.8 cm)
Exhibitions:
1940, Venice, 22nd Biennale Internazionale d’Arte; 1940, Milan,
7th Triennale; 2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design; 2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu,
Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, blue catalogue, n. 3940;
G. Ponti, 1940, p. 70;
R. Aloi, 1945, nn. 10, 13;
M. Brusatin, 1972, p. 24;
Carlo Scarpa…, 1984, p. 185;
La verrerie…, 1988, p. 117;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 58-63;
M. Barovier, 1991, n. 23, 32;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1992, n. 69;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 54;
F. Deboni, 1996, n. 193; A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, nn. 98-104;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, nn. 42, 43;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 219;
M. Barovier, 1998 (b), p. 27;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 187;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 62;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 95.