Beginning in the 1930s — and throughout the postwar years especially — Venini & Co. played a leading role in the revival of Italy’s high-end glass industry, pairing innovative modernist designers with the skilled artisans who created extraordinary chandeliers, sconces and other lighting in the centuries-old glass workshops on the Venetian island of Murano.
While the company’s co-founder, Paolo Venini (1895–1959), was himself a highly talented glassware designer, his true genius was to invite forward-thinking Italian and international designers to Murano’s hallowed workshops to create Venini pieces — among them Gio Ponti, Massimo Vignelli, Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, Thomas Stearns of the United States and Fulvio Bianconi.
Paolo Venini trained and practiced as a lawyer for a time, though his family had been involved with glassmaking for generations. After initially buying a share in a Venetian glass firm — he and antiques dealer Giacomo Cappellin established Vetri Soffiati Cappellin Venini & C. in 1921 — Venini took over the company as his own in 1925, and under his direction, it produced mainly classical Baroque designs.
In 1932, Venini hired the young Carlo Scarpa— who would later distinguish himself as an architect — as his lead designer. Scarpa, working in concert with practiced glass artisans, completely modernized Venini, introducing simple, pared-down forms; bright primary colors; and bold patterns such as stripes, banding and abstract compositions that utilized cross sections of murrine (glass rods).
Paolo Venini’s best designs are thought to be his two-color Clessidre hourglasses, produced from 1957 onward, and the Fazzoletto (“handkerchief”) vase, designed with Bianconi in 1949. Bianconi’s masterworks are considered by many to be his Pezzato works — colorful vases with patterns that resemble those of a patchwork quilt.
Other noteworthy and highly collectible vintage Venini works include Ponti’s dual-tone stoppered bottles (circa 1948); rare glass sculptures from the Doge series by Stearns, the first American to design for the firm; Vignelli’s striped lanterns of the 1960s; the Occhi vases with eyelet-shaped patterns by Tobia Scarpa (son of Carlo); and, with their almost zen purity, the Bolle (“bubbles”) bottles designed by Wirkkala in 1968.
With these works — and many others by some of the creative titans of the 20th and 21st centuries — Venini has produced one of the truly great bodies of work in modern design.
Find antique and vintage Venini chandeliers, serveware, table lamps, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Murano Glass and Chrome Dining Table by Rodolfo Dordoni for Venini
By Venini, Rodolfo Dordoni
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Venini Spazio is a project that marks this Venetian company’s entrée into interiors. The art direction has been handed to Rodolfo Dordoni, designer of the first collection. ‘I have d...
Chrome
Big Italian Mid-Century Modern Crystal Floor Lamp / Side Table
By Venini
Located in Weesp, NL
Artù, the stunning Mid-Century Modern crystal floor lamp/side table designed by the legendary Ettore Fantasia for Sothis Italy. This exquisite piece combines both form and function, ...
Crystal, Metal, Chrome
Herbert Saiger for Woodard Round Dining Table in Aluminum and Glass
By Herbert Saiger
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Herbert Saiger for Woodard, round dining table, aluminum, glass, United States, 1960s Originally designed as outdoor furniture, this smooth dining or centre table by Herbert Saiger ...
Aluminum
$1,429Sale Price|25% Off
H 29.53 in Dm 47.25 in
Chrome Plated Metal and Smoked Glass Trifoglio Table by S. Asti for Poltronova
By Sergio Asti, Poltronova
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This table was produced in Italy by Poltronova in 1969. It is made from a chrome plated base with a shaped thick feet and a black skai top cover, it features a round smoke glass top....
Metal, Chrome
Italian Brass and Chrome Center or Dining Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant Italian Brass and Chrome Center or Dining Table, Italy, circa 1960s. The table base measures 27.5"H x 35.25"W.
Metal
$10,800
H 73.63 in W 26.78 in D 26.78 in
1950s Mid-Century Modern Italian Floor Lamp with Integrated Side Table in Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Esperia, floor lamp, lacquered steel and brass, marble, teak, Italy, 1950s This 1950s Italian floor lamp by Esperia challenges traditional ideas on how lighting and everyday objects...
Brass, Steel
Chrome and Glass Oval Dining Table, France 1950-1960
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Oval dining/center table with a smoked glass top and tulip-shaped base of cast aluminum and black moulded plastic.
$1,800
H 28.75 in Dm 40 in
Mid-Century Modern Milo Baughman Style Round Chrome & Glass Dining Center Table
By Milo Baughman
Located in Lambertville, NJ
1970s Mid-Century Modern chrome and glass dining or center table in the style of Milo Baughman. Sculptural polished chrome base features a flat bar octagon design. Existing round cle...
Chrome
$3,950Sale Price|46% Off
H 69.25 in W 19.25 in D 19.25 in
Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals Floor Lamp with Side Table, 1955, Signed
By Parzinger Originals, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This incredible floor lamp with built-in side table by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals is finished in a black lacquer with Parzinger's signature brass accents. Signed 'Parzinger Originals' under the base, making this 1950s authentic designer piece ultra-collectible. The three lights comprise of a single up-light and two down-lights which can be turned on and off independently of one another or used in unison as demonstrated in the photos. A glass Stiffel branded glass cone shade sits on top of the lamp and a larger black fabric shade with golden insides is included. Can be used with or without the larger black shade. Consider using in a Mid-Century Modern, Hollywood Regency or Postmodern home...
Brass
Lucite Stacked Block Floor Lamp with Side Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Hanover, MA
Vintage lucite helix-form stacked blocks floor lamp with a 15 inch square lucite table top at 23 inches high. Chrome fittings. Stepped three tier lucite s...
Lucite
$7,700Sale Price|30% Off
H 25 in Dm 48 in
Signed Paul Evans Octagonal Cityscape Burl Wood and Chrome Dining Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Gladstone, NJ
Signed Paul Evans octagonal cityscape burl wood and chrome dining table.
Metal
$7,828 / item
H 29.53 in Dm 55.12 in
Modern Dining Table by Maurizio Cattelan for Dilmos, Iron Base, Round Glass Top
By Maurizio Cattelan
Located in Milan, IT
Cerberino, designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan in 1991 for Dilmos Milano, is a unique dining table in the gallery's collection. The piece is composed of a glass top and a crude flame-cut iron base, inspired by the Cerberus from Greek mythology, a three-headed creature that guards the gates of hell...
Iron
Big Mid-Century Floor Lamp, 1970s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
-Good condition -New handmade shade made of parchment paper -Stand made of glazed ceramics.
Parchment Paper
Floor Lamp with Built in Side Table
By Henredon, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern round tessellated tile marble top end occasional table stand floor lamp on square base with bracket feet.
Travertine
$12,500
H 29.25 in Dm 51 in
French Midcentury Round Aluminum and Glass Center Dining Table by Boris Tabacoff
By Boris Tabacoff
Located in New York, NY
French Mid-Century Modern round center or dining table with a cast aluminum base and a smoked glass top by Boris Tabacoff circa 1960. We can polish the aluminum base to perfection...
Aluminum
Brass and Lucite Tripod Leg Floor Lamp Glass Side Table
By Harvey Probber, Mastercraft
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern floor lamp side table combination.
Brass
Sculptural Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp with Built In Round Glass Side Table
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice craftsmanship sculptural walnut floor lamp. Frosted glass cylinder shape shade. Turned walnut base.
Glass, Walnut