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., 1942
Carlo Scarpa
Conchiglie, 1942

Carlo Scarpa   ConchiglieVenini & C., 1942

Three seashells. The shell on the top is composed of clear cristallo, the middle of straw-colored glass, and the bottom one is in pink glass.
All three are strongly iridized.

All acid stamped:
venini murano
MADE IN ITALY
and venini murano ITALIA.
Original paper label.
6 in. long (15.2 cm)
9 13/16 in. long (25 cm)
7 in. long (17.8 cm)

Exhibitions:
1942, Venice, 23rd 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. 4556;
R. Aloi, 1945, n. 23;
F. Deboni, 1989, nn. 77, 79;
M. Barovier, 1991, n. 57;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, p. 52;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, n. 49;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 224;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 76;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 113.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1942
Carlo Scarpa
Decoro a fili, 1942

Carlo Scarpa   Decoro a filiVenini & C., 1942

Bowl in clear glass decorated
with shades of brown fili (threads)
of glass. The entire surface is
highly iridized.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
4 in. high (10.1 cm)
Ø; 10 in. (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:
Venini, grey catalogue, n. 4569;
M. Barovier, 1991, n. 53;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, n. 48;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 224;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 75;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 112.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1942
Carlo Scarpa
A pennellate, 1942

Carlo Scarpa   A pennellateVenini & C., 1942

Vases in lightly iridized trasparente glass decorated with brushstrokes, pennellate, of colored glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano.
5 1/8 in. high (13 cm)
9 3/4 in. high (24.8 cm)

Exhibitions:
1942, Venice, 23rd 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, blue catalogue n. 3911;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 74;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 111;
In addition, see descriptions
nn. 72 & 108.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1942
Carlo Scarpa
A pennellate, 1942

Carlo Scarpa   A pennellateVenini & C., 1942

Bowl in lightly iridized trasparente glass decorated with brushstrokes, pennellate, of colored glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
4 15/16 in. high (12.5 cm)
Ø; 7 7/8 in. (20 cm)
Exhibitions:
1942, Venice, 23rd 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, blue catalogue n. 3767;
G. Ponti, 1959, p. 42;

Space Design, 1977, p. 70;

Murano Glass…, 1982, n. 146;

Venini & the Murano…, 1984, n. 12;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, p. 216;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 82;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1992, n. 65;
H. Newman, 1993, p. 298;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 72;
Glas Band II, 1995, p. 229;
Venezia e la Biennale…, 1995, p. 430;
F. Deboni, 1996, n. 199;

A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, nn. 121, 122;

M. Heiremans, 1996, n. 68;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, n. 45;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 223;
M. Barovier, 1998 (b), p. 30;
Venini Venezia, 1998, p. 67;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 187;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000,
n. 145;

Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 74;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 110;

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1942
Carlo Scarpa
A pennellate, 1942

Carlo Scarpa   A pennellateVenini & C., 1942

Bowl in lightly iridized clear glass decorated with brushstrokes, pennellate, of yellow and amethyst glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
4 1/2 in. high (11.5 cm)
Ø; 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)

Exhibitions:
1942, Venice, 23rd 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, blue catalogue n. 3779;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 73;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 109;
In addition, see description n. 110.