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
Massimo Vignelli, Venini & C., 1979
Massimo Vignelli
Bicchiere e Brocca Ciga, 1979

Massimo Vignelli   Bicchiere e Brocca CigaVenini & C., 1979

Line of glassware designed by Massimo Vignelli and produced by Venini & C., for the Italian Ciga Hotels. The corrugation of the glass surface creates shadows and reflections and was designed to add brilliance and elegance to the glass.

3 1/2 in. high (8.9 cm)
7 1/8 in. high (18.1 cm)

Exhibitions:
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Design Vignelli, 1990, p. 272;
M. Romanelli, 2000, p. 210;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 105;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 142.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli, Venini & C., 1957
Massimo Vignelli
Vetro e argento, 1957

Massimo Vignelli   Vetro e argentoVenini & C., 1957

Two transparent glass pitchers, one in aubergine and one in green glass, both finished with dense wheel-carved incisions. The two pitchers are fitted with a silver handle and a spout. This series was originally designed in 1957 for the American silversmith Towle but never produced. They were produced three years later, in 1960, by Venini & C., and the French silversmith Christofle.

11 7/8 in. high (cm. 30.2)
10 in. high (25.4 cm)

Exhibitions:
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Domus, 1963, July, pp. 39, 40;
Design Vignelli, 1990, p. 269;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 214;
M. Romanelli, 2000, p. 210;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000, n. 229;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 104;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 141.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli, Venini & C., 1952
Massimo Vignelli
A fasce verticali, 1952

Massimo Vignelli   A fasce verticaliVenini & C., 1952

A pitcher and four drinking glasses crafted with transparent fasce verticali in pale colors.

Acid stamped:
venini murano.
5 15/16 in. high (15.1 cm)
13 3/16 in. high (33.5 cm)
Exhibitions:
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, green catalogue, nn. 33c, 333.2;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 113;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 162;
M. Romanelli, 2000, p. 210;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000, n. 226;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 103;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 140.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli, Venini & C., 1955
Massimo Vignelli

Massimo Vignelli   FungoVenini & C., 1955

Table lamp in the shape of a mushroom crafted with lattimo and yellow glass canes. The architect, Massimo Vignelli, received an honorable mention at the Compasso d’Oro in 1956 for this design.

13 3/4 in. high (35 cm)
Exhibitions:
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Stile Industria, 1956, December, n. 9;
Design Vignelli, 1990, p. 262;
Designed for Delight, 1997, n. 133;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1998, n. 156;
M. Romanelli, 2000, p. 209;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000, n. 228; Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 102;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 139.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli, Venini & C., 1954
Massimo Vignelli
Sigaro, 1954

Massimo Vignelli   SigaroVenini & C., 1954

A cigar-shaped ceiling lamp, the
top portion crafted in lattimo glass, the bottom part with multicolored horizontal fasce of glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
13 7/8 in. high (35.8 cm)
Exhibitions:
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. 3035L;
Domus, 1956, November, p. 37;
G. Ponti, 1959;
Domus, 1956, January, pp. 45-47;
Domus, 1956, November;
Domus, 1959, Dicember;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, n. 216;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 163;
M. Romanelli, 2000, p. 209;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000, n. 227;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 101;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 138.