Venini Picture Frame Brass Murano Glass Gold 1940 Italy
About the Item
Venini
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Milano, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Venini Frame Brass Murano Glass, 1940, ItalyBy VeniniLocated in Milano, ITVenini frame brass Murano glass, 1940, Italy.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Other Glass
MaterialsGlass
- Venini Sconces Brass Murano Glass, 1940, ItalyBy VeniniLocated in Milano, ITVenini sconces.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Other Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- Venini Centerpiece Murano Glass Gold, 1940, ItalyBy VeniniLocated in Milano, ITVENINI centerpiece.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Other Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Venini Chandelier Murano Glass Metal Brass 1940 ItalyBy VeniniLocated in Milano, ITChandelier VENINI.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Other Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Venini Ceiling Light Murano Glass Brass, 1940, ItalyBy VeniniLocated in Milano, ITVenini ceiling light Murano glass brass, 1940, Italy.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Other More Lighting
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Venini Couple Chandeliers Murano Glass Iron Brass, 1940, ItalyBy VeniniLocated in Milano, ITVenini chandes.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Other Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Italian Murano Twist Glass Picture Frame by VeniniBy VeniniLocated in Morazzone, VareseItalian Modern Murano twist glass and brass picture frame, in kiwi green color. Suits for 5x7" picture. A thick Murano glass picture frame in kiwi green color designed and manufact...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Picture Frames
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Italian Murano Twist Glass Picture Frame by VeniniBy VeniniLocated in Morazzone, VareseItalian Modern Murano twist light blue glass and brass picture frame. Suits for 5x7" picture. A thick Murano glass picture frame in light blue color designed and manufactured by V...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Picture Frames
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Italian Murano Twist Glass Picture Frame by VeniniBy VeniniLocated in Morazzone, VareseItalian Modern Murano twist glass and brass picture frame, in amber color. Suits for 5x7" picture. A thick Murano glass picture frame in amber color designed and manufactured by Ve...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Picture Frames
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Italian Murano Twist Glass Picture Frame by VeniniBy VeniniLocated in Morazzone, VareseItalian Modern Murano twist glass and brass picture frame, transparent with golden glitter. Suits for 5x7" picture. A thick Murano glass picture frame with transparent glass and go...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Picture Frames
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Italian Murano Twist Glass Picture Frame by VeniniBy VeniniLocated in Morazzone, VareseItalian Modern Murano twist glass and brass picture frame, in pink color. Suits for 5x7" picture. A thick Murano glass picture frame in pink color designed and manufactured by Veni...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Picture Frames
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Murano Glass and Brass Picture Frame Attributed to Venini, Italy 1950sBy VeniniLocated in Rome, ITA beautiful picture frame made of clear "twisted rope" Murano glass and the original wooden backrest, with brass support, attributed to Venini. Made in Italy in the 1940s.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Picture Frames
MaterialsMetal, Brass