Venini Hourglass
Vintage 1950s Italian Modern Glass
Glass, Sandalwood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Abstract Sculptures
Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern More Clocks
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Minimalist Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
20th Century Unknown Scientific Instruments
Glass
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Glass
Early 20th Century Unknown Modern Scientific Instruments
Glass
Vintage 1960s Italian Glass
Blown Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Glass
Glass
Vintage 1960s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
Murano Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
Art Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Space Age Glass
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Glass, Murano Glass
20th Century American Modern More Desk Accessories
Glass
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
20th Century Unknown Modern Scientific Instruments
Glass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Post-Modern More Desk Accessories
Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Glass
Late 20th Century Italian Decorative Objects
Murano Glass
Vintage 1970s Italian Decorative Objects
Murano Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Glass
Blown Glass
Vintage 1960s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
Art Glass
- 1
Venini Co. (Italy)
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 in the centuries-old glass workshops on the Venetian island of Murano. While the company’s 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 Giò Ponti, Massimo Vignelli, Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala, Thomas Stearnsof 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 took over the company as his own in 1925, and under his direction it produced mainly classical Baroque designs. In 1932, he 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 century — Venini has produced one of the truly great bodies of work in modern design.
Finding the Right Decorative Objects for You
Every time you move into a house or an apartment — or endeavor to refresh the home you’ve lived in for years — life for that space begins anew. The right home accent, be it the simple placement of a decorative bowl on a shelf or a ceramic vase for fresh flowers, can transform an area from drab to spectacular. But with so many materials and items to choose from, it’s easy to get lost in the process. The key to styling with antique and vintage decorative objects is to work toward making a happy home that best reflects your personal style.
Ceramics are a versatile addition to any home. If you’ve amassed an assortment of functional pottery over the years, think of your mugs and salad bowls as decorative objects, ideal for displaying in a glass cabinet. Vintage ceramic serveware can pop along white open shelving in your dining area, while large stoneware pitchers paired with woven baskets or quilts in an open cupboard can introduce a rustic farmhouse-style element to your den.
Translucent decorative boxes or bowls made of an acrylic plastic called Lucite — a game changer in furniture that’s easy to clean and lasts long — are modern accents that are neutral enough to dress up a coffee table or desktop without cluttering it. If you’re showcasing pieces from the past, a vintage jewelry box for displaying your treasures can spark conversation: Where is the jewelry box from? Is there a story behind it?
Abstract sculptures or an antique vessel for your home library can draw attention to your book collection and add narrative charm to the most appropriate of corners. There’s more than one way to style your bookcases, and decorative objects add a provocative dynamic. “I love magnifying glasses,” says Alex Assouline, global vice president of luxury publisher Assouline, of adding one’s cherished objects to a home library. “They are both useful and decorative. Objects really elevate libraries and can also make them more personal.”
To help with personalizing your space and truly making it your own, find an extraordinary collection of decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Read More
How a Craving for Color Revolutionized Glass
After synthetic dyes changed fashion, home goods and printed matter, it was only a matter of time till glass caught up.
Kazuyo Sejima’s Flowering Tree Blooms Year-Round
The brilliantly simple design turns a modest bouquet into a major statement.
He Wrote ‘Oedipus Rex,’ but Do You Know What He Looked Like?
The Greek tragedian is said to have been handsome in his day.
Cigar Culture Was Once the Peak of Masculinity. Now, It’s a Compelling Curiosity
Even for those who don’t indulge, elegant smoking accessories and audacious art portraying cigar enthusiasts hold a nostalgic allure.
African Travel Plans on Hold? This Ardmore Leopard Vase Brings the Beauty of the Savanna to You
It’s an excellent example of the sought-after ceramics coming out of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
With a High-Tech Flagship and Cool Collabs, Lladró Is Breaking the Mold for Porcelain Production
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
Zoë Powell’s Magnolia 05 Vessel Is Handmade from Clay She Unearthed Herself
The free-form stoneware piece is inspired by the magnolia tree and its associations with home.
8 Ways to Breathe New Life into a Space with Plants
The pair behind the Instagram account @houseplantclub share their tips for making any room of the house gloriously green.