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
Tessuto, 1940

Carlo Scarpa   TessutoVenini & C., 1940

A vase composed of thin vertical canes in green and amethyst, sommerso in cristallo glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano.
8 1/4 in. high (21 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, blue catalogue, n. 3594;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 53;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 85;
In addition, see description n. 84.

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

Carlo Scarpa   TessutoVenini & C., 1940

A bicolored vase, one half composed of thin vertical canes
in red and black, the other half in
red and lattimo canes.

Acid stamped:
venini murano.
6 3/4 in. high (17.1 cm)

Exhibitions:
1940, Venice, 22nd 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:
G. Ponti, 1940, p. 70;
G. Mariacher, 1954, p. 169;
R. Aloi, 1955, p. 27;
G. Ponti, 1959, p. 40;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1977, n. 67;
Venezianisches…, 1981, p. 68;
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 529;
Murano Glass…, 1982, n. 144;

R. Barovier Mentasti, 1982, p. 284;
M. Miani, D. Resini, F. Lamon, 1984, p. 84;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, p. 197;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 68-70;
G. Duplani Tucci, 1989, nn. 17-18;
H. Ricke, 1990, p. 234;
M. Barovier, 1991, n. 38, 39;
L’arte del vetro…, 1992, p. 253;
M. Heiremans, 1993, n. 202;
M. Barovier, 1994, n. 12;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 58;
H. Ricke, 1995, p .236;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, nn. 114-116;
M. Heiremans, 1996, n. 65;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, nn. 39- 41;
M. Barovier, 1997, pp. 214, 215;
M. Barovier, 1998 (b), p. 25;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1998, n. 90;
Venini Venezia, 1998, p. 67;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 187;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 52;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 84.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1938
Carlo Scarpa
Variegato zigrinato, 1938

Carlo Scarpa   Variegato zigrinatoVenini & C., 1938

Bowl in clear iridized glass decorated with a spiral of red
pasta vitrea.

Acid stamped:
venini murano.
Ø; 9 1/16 in. (23 cm)
Exhibitions:
1938, Venice, 21st 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:
Le Tre Venezie, 1938, June, p. 247;
M. Heiremans, 1993, n. 206;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 213;
M. Barovier, 1998 (b), p. 25;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 167;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 51;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 83.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1938
Carlo Scarpa
A fasce, 1938

Carlo Scarpa   A fasceVenini & C., 1938

A clear glass vase decorated with a spiraling fascia. Half of the fascia in lattimo glass and half in red pasta vitrea.

Acid stamped:
venini murano
MADE IN ITALY
.
9 1/2 in. high (24.1 cm)

Exhibitions:
1938, Venice, 21st 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:
Domus, 1936, July, p. 19;
Le Tre Venezie, 1938, June, p. 46;
M. Heiremans, 1996, n. 59;
M. Barovier, 1997, pp. 212, 213;
M. Barovier, 1998 (b), p. 25;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 50;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 82.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Carlo Scarpa, Venini & C., 1936
Carlo Scarpa
Soffiato trasparente, 1936

Carlo Scarpa   Soffiato trasparenteVenini & C., 1936

Lightly iridized vase in thin, straw-colored clear glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano
MADE IN ITALY
.
9 1/8 in. high (23.2 cm)
Exhibitions:
1936, Venice, 20th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
1936, Milan, 6th 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. 3586;
Domus, 1934, December, p. 32;
C.A. Felice, 1936, pp. 23, 26, 29;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 41;
M. Barovier, 1997, p. 208;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 49;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 81.