Napoleone MartinuzziTrasparente, ca. 1927
Napoleone MartinuzziTrasparenteV.S.M. Venini & C., ca. 1927
Large vase in transparent green glass.
Acid stamped:
venini murano ITALIA and paper label: n. 137.
17 in. high (43.2 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:
W. Neuwirth, 1987, n. 6;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 12;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 19.
Napoleone Martinuzzi 1892–1977
The son of a glassworker from Murano, Napoleone Martinuzzi was a sculptor, designer, and businessman. He attended the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, and later joined the secessionist group of Cà Pesaro, where he exhibited his sculptures in 1908. From 1917 on, he was Gabriele D'Annunzio's favorite artist and he designed a funeral monument for him, as well as sculpture and many works in glass, which may still be seen today at the Vittoriale. Between 1921 and 1931, he directed the Museo Vetrario di Murano, and in 1925 he became a partner and artistic director at the Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. After carrying on the concepts defined by his predecessor, Vittorio Zecchin, and creating beautifully transparent blown glass pieces, he elaborated on his own distinct style, directly derived from his experience as a Novecento sculptor. In 1928, he made his first pieces in pulegoso glass, giving life to a sculptural series of vessels with impressive shapes and vivid colors, as well as an unusual collection of cacti, fruits, and animals. After leaving Venini, in 1932 he founded Zecchin-Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici with Francesco Zecchin, for which he designed figures of animals and cacti, opaque vessels with classical shapes, and female nudes in solid massiccio glass. He became artistic director of Alberto Seguso's Arte Vetro, where he made glass sculptures shaped while hot. Between 1953 and 1958, he designed chandeliers and glass tiles for the Vetreria Cenedese. In the '60s and '70s, he designed works produced by Alfredo Barbini for Pauly & C.
V.S.M. Venini & C. 1925–1932
In 1925, following the closing of Cappellin Venini & C., Paolo Venini founded his own glass company, which he called Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. (V.S.M. Venini & C.). While the company, under the artistic direction of sculptor Napoleone Martinuzzi, produced collections designed by Vittorio Zecchin, it soon became known for the pulegosi, an original style created by Venini and Martinuzzi. In 1932, both Martinuzzi and Zecchin left the company. Paolo Venini changed the name of the company to Venini & C. and Milanese architect Tommaso Buzzi became the new artistic director.
Napoleone MartinuzziTrasparente, ca. 1927
Napoleone MartinuzziPulegoso, 1928-1930
Napoleone MartinuzziPulegosoV.S.M. Venini & C., 1928-1930
Amphora-shaped vessel in green pulegoso glass with two small, applied handles.
12 1/4 in. high (31.1 cm)
Exhibitions:
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu,
Spazio Oberdan.
Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, blue catalogue, n. 3255;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 8;
M. Barovier, 1992, n. 16;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 20.
Napoleone Martinuzzi 1892–1977
The son of a glassworker from Murano, Napoleone Martinuzzi was a sculptor, designer, and businessman. He attended the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, and later joined the secessionist group of Cà Pesaro, where he exhibited his sculptures in 1908. From 1917 on, he was Gabriele D'Annunzio's favorite artist and he designed a funeral monument for him, as well as sculpture and many works in glass, which may still be seen today at the Vittoriale. Between 1921 and 1931, he directed the Museo Vetrario di Murano, and in 1925 he became a partner and artistic director at the Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. After carrying on the concepts defined by his predecessor, Vittorio Zecchin, and creating beautifully transparent blown glass pieces, he elaborated on his own distinct style, directly derived from his experience as a Novecento sculptor. In 1928, he made his first pieces in pulegoso glass, giving life to a sculptural series of vessels with impressive shapes and vivid colors, as well as an unusual collection of cacti, fruits, and animals. After leaving Venini, in 1932 he founded Zecchin-Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici with Francesco Zecchin, for which he designed figures of animals and cacti, opaque vessels with classical shapes, and female nudes in solid massiccio glass. He became artistic director of Alberto Seguso's Arte Vetro, where he made glass sculptures shaped while hot. Between 1953 and 1958, he designed chandeliers and glass tiles for the Vetreria Cenedese. In the '60s and '70s, he designed works produced by Alfredo Barbini for Pauly & C.
V.S.M. Venini & C. 1925–1932
In 1925, following the closing of Cappellin Venini & C., Paolo Venini founded his own glass company, which he called Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. (V.S.M. Venini & C.). While the company, under the artistic direction of sculptor Napoleone Martinuzzi, produced collections designed by Vittorio Zecchin, it soon became known for the pulegosi, an original style created by Venini and Martinuzzi. In 1932, both Martinuzzi and Zecchin left the company. Paolo Venini changed the name of the company to Venini & C. and Milanese architect Tommaso Buzzi became the new artistic director.
Napoleone MartinuzziPulegoso, 1928-1930
Napoleone MartinuzziPulegoso, 1928-1930
Napoleone MartinuzziPulegosoV.S.M. Venini & C., 1928-1930
Amphora-shaped vessel in green pulegoso glass with two large handles and ribbed base.
17 3/4 in. high (45.1 cm)
Exhibitions:
1930, Venice, 17th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
1930, Monza, 4th Esposizione Internazionale delle Arti Decorative
e Industriali Moderne;
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu, Spazio Oberdan.
Bibliography and comparative texts:
M. Karasik, 1989, n. 2;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 25;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 14;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 21.
Napoleone Martinuzzi 1892–1977
The son of a glassworker from Murano, Napoleone Martinuzzi was a sculptor, designer, and businessman. He attended the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, and later joined the secessionist group of Cà Pesaro, where he exhibited his sculptures in 1908. From 1917 on, he was Gabriele D'Annunzio's favorite artist and he designed a funeral monument for him, as well as sculpture and many works in glass, which may still be seen today at the Vittoriale. Between 1921 and 1931, he directed the Museo Vetrario di Murano, and in 1925 he became a partner and artistic director at the Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. After carrying on the concepts defined by his predecessor, Vittorio Zecchin, and creating beautifully transparent blown glass pieces, he elaborated on his own distinct style, directly derived from his experience as a Novecento sculptor. In 1928, he made his first pieces in pulegoso glass, giving life to a sculptural series of vessels with impressive shapes and vivid colors, as well as an unusual collection of cacti, fruits, and animals. After leaving Venini, in 1932 he founded Zecchin-Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici with Francesco Zecchin, for which he designed figures of animals and cacti, opaque vessels with classical shapes, and female nudes in solid massiccio glass. He became artistic director of Alberto Seguso's Arte Vetro, where he made glass sculptures shaped while hot. Between 1953 and 1958, he designed chandeliers and glass tiles for the Vetreria Cenedese. In the '60s and '70s, he designed works produced by Alfredo Barbini for Pauly & C.
V.S.M. Venini & C. 1925–1932
In 1925, following the closing of Cappellin Venini & C., Paolo Venini founded his own glass company, which he called Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. (V.S.M. Venini & C.). While the company, under the artistic direction of sculptor Napoleone Martinuzzi, produced collections designed by Vittorio Zecchin, it soon became known for the pulegosi, an original style created by Venini and Martinuzzi. In 1932, both Martinuzzi and Zecchin left the company. Paolo Venini changed the name of the company to Venini & C. and Milanese architect Tommaso Buzzi became the new artistic director.
Napoleone MartinuzziPulegoso, 1928-1930
Napoleone MartinuzziPulegoso, 1930
Napoleone MartinuzziPulegosoV.S.M. Venini & C., 1930
Amphora-shaped vase in green pulegoso glass. Ten applied handles and mouth are decorated with gold leaf applications. A similar model was part of the collection of the poet Gabriele d’Annunzio, now on exhibition in the Stanza della Zambracca at the Il Vittoriale degli Italiani museum on Lake Garda.
13 1/2 in. high (34.3 cm)
Exhibitions:
1930, Venice, 17th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte; 1930, Monza, 4th Esposizione Internazionale delle Arti Decorative e Industriali Moderne;
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. 3273:
photo n. 431, Triennale archives;
C.A. Felice, 1931, p. 64; G. Lorenzetti, 1931;Vetri Murano…, 1981, p. 30;
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 525; R. Bossaglia, M. Quesada, 1988, n. 338 a;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 14; G. Duplani Tucci, 1989, n. 11; M. Barovier, 1992, n. 80; L’arte del vetro, 1992, n. 327;
F. Deboni, 1996, n. 180; A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 20;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1998, n. 38;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 159; A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 2000, n. 44;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 13;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 22.
Napoleone Martinuzzi 1892–1977
The son of a glassworker from Murano, Napoleone Martinuzzi was a sculptor, designer, and businessman. He attended the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, and later joined the secessionist group of Cà Pesaro, where he exhibited his sculptures in 1908. From 1917 on, he was Gabriele D'Annunzio's favorite artist and he designed a funeral monument for him, as well as sculpture and many works in glass, which may still be seen today at the Vittoriale. Between 1921 and 1931, he directed the Museo Vetrario di Murano, and in 1925 he became a partner and artistic director at the Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. After carrying on the concepts defined by his predecessor, Vittorio Zecchin, and creating beautifully transparent blown glass pieces, he elaborated on his own distinct style, directly derived from his experience as a Novecento sculptor. In 1928, he made his first pieces in pulegoso glass, giving life to a sculptural series of vessels with impressive shapes and vivid colors, as well as an unusual collection of cacti, fruits, and animals. After leaving Venini, in 1932 he founded Zecchin-Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici with Francesco Zecchin, for which he designed figures of animals and cacti, opaque vessels with classical shapes, and female nudes in solid massiccio glass. He became artistic director of Alberto Seguso's Arte Vetro, where he made glass sculptures shaped while hot. Between 1953 and 1958, he designed chandeliers and glass tiles for the Vetreria Cenedese. In the '60s and '70s, he designed works produced by Alfredo Barbini for Pauly & C.
V.S.M. Venini & C. 1925–1932
In 1925, following the closing of Cappellin Venini & C., Paolo Venini founded his own glass company, which he called Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. (V.S.M. Venini & C.). While the company, under the artistic direction of sculptor Napoleone Martinuzzi, produced collections designed by Vittorio Zecchin, it soon became known for the pulegosi, an original style created by Venini and Martinuzzi. In 1932, both Martinuzzi and Zecchin left the company. Paolo Venini changed the name of the company to Venini & C. and Milanese architect Tommaso Buzzi became the new artistic director.
Napoleone MartinuzziPulegoso, 1930
Napoleone MartinuzziIncamiciato, 1933
Napoleone MartinuzziIncamiciatoZecchin-Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici, 1933
Vessel in thin, blue cased glass.
10 in. high (25.4 cm)
Exhibitions:
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu,
Spazio Oberdan.
Bibliography and comparative texts:
M. Barovier, 1992, n. 55;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1992, n. 58;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 23.
Napoleone Martinuzzi 1892–1977
The son of a glassworker from Murano, Napoleone Martinuzzi was a sculptor, designer, and businessman. He attended the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, and later joined the secessionist group of Cà Pesaro, where he exhibited his sculptures in 1908. From 1917 on, he was Gabriele D'Annunzio's favorite artist and he designed a funeral monument for him, as well as sculpture and many works in glass, which may still be seen today at the Vittoriale. Between 1921 and 1931, he directed the Museo Vetrario di Murano, and in 1925 he became a partner and artistic director at the Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. After carrying on the concepts defined by his predecessor, Vittorio Zecchin, and creating beautifully transparent blown glass pieces, he elaborated on his own distinct style, directly derived from his experience as a Novecento sculptor. In 1928, he made his first pieces in pulegoso glass, giving life to a sculptural series of vessels with impressive shapes and vivid colors, as well as an unusual collection of cacti, fruits, and animals. After leaving Venini, in 1932 he founded Zecchin-Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici with Francesco Zecchin, for which he designed figures of animals and cacti, opaque vessels with classical shapes, and female nudes in solid massiccio glass. He became artistic director of Alberto Seguso's Arte Vetro, where he made glass sculptures shaped while hot. Between 1953 and 1958, he designed chandeliers and glass tiles for the Vetreria Cenedese. In the '60s and '70s, he designed works produced by Alfredo Barbini for Pauly & C.
Zecchin-Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici 1932–1938
In 1932, the two Muranese partners of Paolo Venini—engineer Francesco Zecchin and the sculptor and designer Napoleone Martinuzzi—left the Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. and founded their own company: Zecchin-Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici. Its production was directed by Martinuzzi who, inspired by the sculptural qualities of the Novecento movement, created large vessels in opaque glass, animals, and cactus in pasta vitrea and female nudes in massiccio glass. In some cases, the company also collaborated with Mario Romano and Giovanni Guerrini. Napoleone Martinuzzi left the company in 1936, and after two years Francesco Zecchin closed it for good.