Photograph by Luca Vignelli

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.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Tommaso Buzzi, V.S.M. Venini & C., 1933
Tommaso Buzzi
Alba, 1933
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Photograph by Luca Vignelli

Tommaso Buzzi   AlbaV.S.M. Venini & C., 1933

A footed pitcher in light blue alba glass, cased with several layers of colored glass, incamiciato.
Heart-shaped mouth. Foot and prunted collar in cristallo glass.
The whole pitcher decorated with gold leaf applications.

6 1/2 in. high (16.5 cm)

Exhibitions:
1933, Milan, 5th 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. 3464;
R. Aloi, 1955 p. 27;
Mille anni…, 1982, n. 527;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 38;
R. Barovier Mentasti 1992, n. 57;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, nn. 53, 55;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1998, nn. 52, 54;
M. Barovier, 1999, p. 161;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 35;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 56.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Tommaso Buzzi, V.S.M. Venini & C., 1932
Tommaso Buzzi
Turchese e nero, 1932
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Photograph by Luca Vignelli

Tommaso Buzzi   Turchese e neroV.S.M. Venini & C., 1932

Footed plate in turquoise glass with conical foot in black pasta vitrea.

Acid stamped:
venini murano.
2 3/4 in. high (7 cm)
Ø; 17 5/16 in. (44 cm)

Exhibitions:
1932, Venice, 18th Biennale Internazionale d’Arte;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu,
Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini, blue catalogue, n. 3261;
Domus, 1932, July, p. 417;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 37;
M. Romanelli, 2000, p. 78;
Venini. Catalogo…, 2000, p. 126, nn. 77-78;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 55.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Tommaso Buzzi, V.S.M. Venini & C.Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., 1932
Tommaso Buzzi
Turchese e neroTurchese e nero, 1932
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Photograph by Luca Vignelli

Tommaso Buzzi   Turchese e neroV.S.M. Venini & C.Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., 1932

A turquoise glass bowl with a black conic foot with applied outlined fish.
Fish decor and trim in black glass.

Paper label: Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C.,
4 1/4 in. high (10.8 cm)

Exhibitions:
1932, Venice, 18th 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:
P. Chiesa, 1932, p. 417;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 36;
M. Barovier, R. Barovier Mentasti,
A. Dorigato, 1995, n. 28;
F. Deboni, 1996, p. 73;
A. Venini Diaz de Santillana, 1996, n. 51;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 33;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 54.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Napoleone Martinuzzi, V.S.M. Venini & C., 1930
Napoleone Martinuzzi
Incamiciato, 1930
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Photograph by Luca Vignelli

Napoleone Martinuzzi   IncamiciatoV.S.M. Venini & C., 1930

Vessel in lattimo glass with foot
and a morise decoration in black
pasta vitrea.

11 3/4 in. high (29.8 cm)

Ø; 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm)

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

Bibliography and comparative texts:
Venini Catalogue, n. 3282;
Gli anni di…, 1987, n. 33;
R. Bossaglia, M. Quesada, 1988,
n. 339;
F. Deboni, 1989, n. 31;
Duplani Tucci, 1989, n. 17;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 29.

Photograph by Luca Vignelli
Napoleone Martinuzzi, V.S.M. Venini & C., 1930
Napoleone Martinuzzi
Pulegoso, 1930
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Photograph by Luca Vignelli

Napoleone Martinuzzi   PulegosoV.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.