Vittorio Zecchin 1878–1947

Painter, decorator, and designer Vittorio Zecchin was the son of a glassblower from Murano. Upon graduating from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, he joined the Secessionist movement of Cà Pesaro where he showed his paintings inspired by the Viennese movement on many occasions. In 1913, in Munich, together with Teodoro Wolf Ferrari, he exhibited glass panels and vessels a murrine made by the Artisti Barovier, which represented the attempt to bring the Secessionist style to Murano glass. From 1921 to 1925, he was artistic director of the Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., where he created lightweight glass pieces, classically inspired and delicately colored, which earned him immediate success in Italy and abroad. Inspired by the styles painted in the works of sixteenth-century painters in the Veneto, these vessels were the first modern works in Murano glass. After a short period as artistic director of the Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., he collaborated with S.A.L.I.R. in the ’30s, providing drawings for glass engraving and personally decorating glass with enamels. He occasionally worked for Ferro Toso (1930), A.VE.M. (1932), and Seguso Vetri d’Arte (1933-34). At Fratelli Toso (1938), he created the elegant goblets Leggerissimi. During the ’20s and ’30s, Zecchin also designed tapestries, mosaics, embroidery, ceramics, furniture, silverware, all of which he exhibited at the Biennale di Venezia and the Biennale di Monza. During the last years of his life, he dedicated himself to teaching.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Libellula
Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., 1921-1925

Vittorio Zecchin LibellulaVetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., 1921-1925

Vase in thin blue transparent glass. It is distinguished by its two large handles, which cause it to resemble a dragonfly, hence, its name. After the 1925 closing of V.S.M. Venini & C., the model was included in both the M.V.M. Cappellin & C., (n. 5481) and the V.S.M. Venini & C., (n. 1432) catalogues.

Acid stamped: M.V.M. Cappellin Murano.
7 in. high (17.8 cm)

Exhibitions:
1923, Monza, 1st Esposizione Internazionale delle Arti Decorative;
1924, Venice, 14th 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:
C. Carrà, 1923, p. 67;
R. Linzeler, 1923, p. 84;
R. Papini, 1923;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1982, n. 253;
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 501;
W. Neuwirth, 1987, n. 110;
F. Deboni, 1989, p. 35;
L’arte del vetro…, 1992, n. 306;
M. Heiremans, 1993, n. 192;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 15;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 104;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 11;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 16;
M. Barovier, 2002, n. 123.

Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C.  1921–1925

Cappellin Venini & C. was founded in 1921 after the meeting of the Venetians Giacomo Cappellin and Luigi Ceresa, the Milanese Paolo Venini, and the German-born Emilio Ochs. It first settled in the furnace abandoned by Andrea Rioda. Rioda had died prematurely, leaving the technical direction of his company to Giovanni Seguso, better known to some as Patare. Under the artistic direction of Vittorio Zecchin, Cappellin Venini & C. produced collections characterized by essential forms, some of which were inspired by the Renaissance glass pieces reproduced by sixteenth-century painters in the Veneto region. The company received widespread acclaim at the major exhibitions of decorative arts of the '20s such as the Biennale di Monza (1923, 1925), the Biennale di Venezia (1924), and the Paris Exposition (1925). Cappellin and Venini separated due to irreconcilable differences, and the company was closed in May of 1925. Subsequently, Paolo Venini and Ochs took the furnace and created a new company named Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. Giacomo Cappellin took the glassblowers and Vittorio Zecchin with him and founded a new company with a new furnace: the Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C.

Libellula
Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., 1921-1925
Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Trasparente
Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., 1921-1925

Vittorio Zecchin TrasparenteVetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., 1921-1925

A thin light blue transparent glass vase with applied handles. After the closing of the Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., this style was added to the catalogue of the M.V.M. Cappellin & C., as model number 5293.

16 1/4 in. high (41.2 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:
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000,
n. 10;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 10;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 15.

Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C.  1921–1925

Cappellin Venini & C. was founded in 1921 after the meeting of the Venetians Giacomo Cappellin and Luigi Ceresa, the Milanese Paolo Venini, and the German-born Emilio Ochs. It first settled in the furnace abandoned by Andrea Rioda. Rioda had died prematurely, leaving the technical direction of his company to Giovanni Seguso, better known to some as Patare. Under the artistic direction of Vittorio Zecchin, Cappellin Venini & C. produced collections characterized by essential forms, some of which were inspired by the Renaissance glass pieces reproduced by sixteenth-century painters in the Veneto region. The company received widespread acclaim at the major exhibitions of decorative arts of the '20s such as the Biennale di Monza (1923, 1925), the Biennale di Venezia (1924), and the Paris Exposition (1925). Cappellin and Venini separated due to irreconcilable differences, and the company was closed in May of 1925. Subsequently, Paolo Venini and Ochs took the furnace and created a new company named Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. Giacomo Cappellin took the glassblowers and Vittorio Zecchin with him and founded a new company with a new furnace: the Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C.

Trasparente
Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., 1921-1925
Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Trasparenti
Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., 1921-1925

Vittorio Zecchin TrasparentiVetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., 1921-1925

Gourd-shaped vase in thin, light blue, ribbed transparent glass decorated with two rings at the base of the long neck.
9 5/8 in. high (24.5 cm)
Veronese vase in thin amethyst-colored ribbed transparent glass.
9 3/4 in. high (24.8 cm)
Tall vase in thin light blue transparent glass, ribbed and decorated with teardrop-shaped applications.
15 in. high (38.1 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:
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 502;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 4;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 105;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000, nn. 12, 14;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 9;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 14;
M. Barovier, 2002, nn. 203, 205.

Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C.  1921–1925

Cappellin Venini & C. was founded in 1921 after the meeting of the Venetians Giacomo Cappellin and Luigi Ceresa, the Milanese Paolo Venini, and the German-born Emilio Ochs. It first settled in the furnace abandoned by Andrea Rioda. Rioda had died prematurely, leaving the technical direction of his company to Giovanni Seguso, better known to some as Patare. Under the artistic direction of Vittorio Zecchin, Cappellin Venini & C. produced collections characterized by essential forms, some of which were inspired by the Renaissance glass pieces reproduced by sixteenth-century painters in the Veneto region. The company received widespread acclaim at the major exhibitions of decorative arts of the '20s such as the Biennale di Monza (1923, 1925), the Biennale di Venezia (1924), and the Paris Exposition (1925). Cappellin and Venini separated due to irreconcilable differences, and the company was closed in May of 1925. Subsequently, Paolo Venini and Ochs took the furnace and created a new company named Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. Giacomo Cappellin took the glassblowers and Vittorio Zecchin with him and founded a new company with a new furnace: the Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C.

Trasparenti
Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin Venini & C., 1921-1925
Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Veronese
Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., 1921-1925

Vittorio Zecchin VeroneseMaestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., 1921-1925

Veronese vase in transparent amethyst glass. This vase was named veronese because Vittorio Zecchin, when creating it, was inspired by a similar vase featured in the painting L’Annunciazione by Paolo Veronese which is exhibited in Venice at the Gallerie dell’Accademia Museum. This vase became the logo of the Venini workshop and is still in production.
13 1/8 in. high (33.3 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.

Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C.  1925–1932

M.V.M. Cappellin & C. was founded in 1925 by Giacomo Cappellin after the closing of Cappellin Venini & C. Vittorio Zecchin, a painter from Murano who had worked for Cappellin Venini, continued his collaboration with Cappellin for a short time, designing soffiati, blown glass pieces characterized by delicate colors and pure lines. At the end of 1926, following Zecchin's departure, the young Carlo Scarpa took over the artistic direction of the company. Initially, he proceeded along the course taken by his predecessor, creating lightweight blown pieces with simple geometric forms. These were followed by many collections of refined elegance characterized by various transparent textures and often distinguished by vivid colors. Despite the remarkable success at the 1930 Biennale di Monza, M.V.M. Cappellin & C. was forced to close in January 1932. This was most likely the result of inefficient financial management.

Veronese
Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., 1921-1925
Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Neri e rossi
Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., ca. 1925

Vittorio Zecchin Neri e rossiMaestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., ca. 1925

Vessels in amethyst glass with trim
in red pasta vitrea.
Acid stamped: M.V.M. Cappellin Murano.
5 5/8 in. high (14.3 cm)
9 5/8 in. high (24.5 cm)
2 3/4 in. high (7 cm)

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

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Catalogue M.V.M., n. 5677;
H. Ricke, E. Schmitt, 1996, p. 16;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 12.

Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C.  1925–1932

M.V.M. Cappellin & C. was founded in 1925 by Giacomo Cappellin after the closing of Cappellin Venini & C. Vittorio Zecchin, a painter from Murano who had worked for Cappellin Venini, continued his collaboration with Cappellin for a short time, designing soffiati, blown glass pieces characterized by delicate colors and pure lines. At the end of 1926, following Zecchin's departure, the young Carlo Scarpa took over the artistic direction of the company. Initially, he proceeded along the course taken by his predecessor, creating lightweight blown pieces with simple geometric forms. These were followed by many collections of refined elegance characterized by various transparent textures and often distinguished by vivid colors. Despite the remarkable success at the 1930 Biennale di Monza, M.V.M. Cappellin & C. was forced to close in January 1932. This was most likely the result of inefficient financial management.

Neri e rossi
Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., ca. 1925