Giò Ponti Portrait

Giò Ponti 1891–1979

Giò Ponti was born in Milan. After graduating from the Architecture School in Milan, he dedicated himself to architectural design and the decorative arts, a field to which he brought significant innovation. His furniture design and his work for the porcelain manufacturer Richard Ginori, where he was an artistic consultant from 1923 to 1938, were widely acclaimed. In 1928, he founded the prestigious magazine Domus, an effective instrument for the diffusion of contemporary architectural and figurative culture. He was also one of the founders of the group Il Labirinto, which organized the first Triennali di Monza, later to become part of the Triennale di Milano. A close friend of Paolo Venini, they collaborated in experimenting with new styles and trends (forme nuove). He commissioned several lighting installations from Venini and entrusted him with the making of major stained glass windows. In 1946, he himself designed a refined collection of glass pieces for Venini: among them is the bottle with applied spiral (also made in porcelain by Richard Ginori) and the series of colored bottles and goblets a canne.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
A canne
Venini & C., 1955
Information
Photograph by Luca Vignelli

Giò Ponti A canneVenini & C., 1955

Vase crafted with the use of multicolored canes of glass.

Original paper label: venini murano Venezia n. 3703 MADE IN ITALY.
6 3/4 in. high (17.2 cm)

Exhibitions:
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Domus, 1957, June, advertising insert;
G. Ponti, 1959, p. 41;
Neuwirth, 1987, n. 177;
M. Cousins, 1995, p. 95;
Venini. Catalogo…, p. 99, n. 46.
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 115.

 

Three fazzoletti (handkerchiefs) vases. The one on the left is composed of lattimo glass incamiciato in red glass; the one in the center is turquoise opaline glass; the one on the right is iridescent green glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA, venini murano (circular signature), and venini murano ITALIA.
4 1/2 in. high (11 cm)
3 in. high (8 cm)
5 in. high (12 cm)

 

Two fazzoletti (handkerchiefs) vases. One composed of lattimo glass incamiciato in black glass; the other is in lattimo glass incamiciato in red glass with a slightly iridized surface.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
10 in. high (25.5 cm)
10 in. high (25.5 cm)

Bibliography and comparative texts:
R. Linzeler, 1922, p. 666;
C. Carrà, 1923, p. 67;
R. Linzeler, 1923, p. 83;
R. Papini, 1930, n. 570;
G. Mariacher, 1967, p. 98;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1982, n. 252;
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 503;
F. Deboni, 1984, p. n. 70;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, nn. 7, 104;
A. Dorigato, 1986,
p. 71;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 1;
L’arte del vetro, 1982, n. 307;
M. Heiremans, 1993, n. 191;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 15;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 1;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1998, n. 25;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000, n. 1;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 8;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 13.

Workshop
Photograph by Luca Vignelli

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.

A canne
Venini & C., 1955
Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Bottiglie morandiane
Venini & C., 1946-1950
Information
Photograph by Luca Vignelli

Giò Ponti Bottiglie morandianeVenini & C., 1946-1950

Three stoppered decanters from the Morandiane series composed of multicolored vertical glass canes. The canes on the stoppers match the canes on the bottles.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
18 1/4 in. high (46.4 cm)
14 1/2 in. high (36.8 cm)
18 in. high (45.7 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. 526.10, 526.12, 526.08;
G. Ponti, 1959, p. 41;
A. Gasparetto, 1960, n. 43;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, n. 39, pp. 218, 220;
G. Duplani Tucci, 1989, pp. 54, 55, n. 27;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 88;
M. Heiremans, 1993, n. 207;
M. Heiremans, 1996, n. 165;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, n. 110;
Venini Venezia, 1998, p. 68;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 77;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 114.

 

Two incalmo bottles. One has the base and stopper in lattimo, the other base and stopper are blue pasta vitrea. Both have the neck in grey transparent grey glass.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
13 3/4 in. high (35 cm)
13 3/4 in. high (35 cm)

Bibliography and comparative texts:
R. Linzeler, 1922, p. 666;
C. Carrà, 1923, p. 67;
R. Linzeler, 1923, p. 83;
R. Papini, 1930, n. 570;
G. Mariacher, 1967, p. 98;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1982, n. 252;
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 503;
F. Deboni, 1984, p. n. 70;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, nn. 7, 104;
A. Dorigato, 1986,
p. 71;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 1;
L’arte del vetro, 1982, n. 307;
M. Heiremans, 1993, n. 191;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 15;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 1;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1998, n. 25;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000, n. 1;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 8;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 13.

 

Two stoppered incalmo bottles from the Morandiane series. One is straw and light aubergine glass with a straw colored stopper, the other is straw and blue glass witha a blue stopper.

Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA.
13 1/2 in. high (34 cm)
13 1/2 in. high (34 cm)

Bibliography and comparative texts:
R. Linzeler, 1922, p. 666;
C. Carrà, 1923, p. 67;
R. Linzeler, 1923, p. 83;
R. Papini, 1930, n. 570;
G. Mariacher, 1967, p. 98;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1982, n. 252;
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 503;
F. Deboni, 1984, p. n. 70;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, nn. 7, 104;
A. Dorigato, 1986,
p. 71;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 1;
L’arte del vetro, 1982, n. 307;
M. Heiremans, 1993, n. 191;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 15;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 1;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1998, n. 25;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000, n. 1;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 8;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 13.

Workshop
Photograph by Luca Vignelli

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.

Bottiglie morandiane
Venini & C., 1946-1950