Venini: All the Art (and Design) of Murano Glass

Since 1921, Venini has produced design objects in Murano glass—a historic craftsmanship of Made in Italy and particularly Venetian culture, whose origins date back to the late 1200s. Authentic masterpieces in blown glass still entirely handmade today, where the original spirit of tradition is mirrored by contemporary aesthetics.

Recently, Venini was acquired by the Damiani Group, one of Italy’s excellence brands. Historical traits are always enhanced in the name of creative avant-garde.

A Story with a Venetian Flavor

On October 2, 1921, Milanese lawyer Paolo Venini and Venetian antiquarian Giacomo Cappellin launched an ambitious project by founding “Vetri Soffiati Cappellin Venini & C.”. The first Artistic Director was the Venetian artist Vittorio Zecchin.

The company, which celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 2021, has been characterized since its inception by the ability to fuse in every piece an ancient, precious tradition of Murano glass with the most innovative elements of contemporary design.

From the beginning, the best glass masters of the island of Murano have been involved—historically considered a true heritage for Venice, to the point that they were forbidden by the Podestà to leave the island without special permission.

Under Zecchin’s artistic direction in 1921, the company created what remains its symbol: the famous Veronese vase, the first in a long series of successes that established Venini in the Italian and international scene.

Even Gabriele D’Annunzio was enchanted: at the XV Venice Art Biennale in 1926, seeing two works designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi, he declared: “Let the design be more splendid than the glass… may your vases’ beauty be so delicate that it truly seems to breathe the spirit.”

Martinuzzi was one of the outstanding designers collaborating with Venini, creating original works such as whimsical glass animals and important innovations in glassmaking.

Venini’s art and design creations are, then as now, appreciated worldwide. They can be admired in major Art Museums and featured in leading international events. They represent one of the excellences for which Made in Italy design is renowned, with objects that never go out of style and that bring new light to homes every time.

Some Names That Made Venini Great

Napoleone Martinuzzi is not the only avant-garde designer who brought talent to the company’s creations. Other important names equally contributing to Venini’s success include Tommaso Buzzi and Carlo Scarpa, Fulvio Bianconi, painter Riccardo Licata, Massimo Vignelli—author of the Serie 4000 lamps, awarded the Compasso d’Oro—and American designers Thomas Stearns and Lyn Tissot. These figures always collaborated alongside the tireless Paolo Venini.

Venini’s history boasts successes in subsequent years with creations by Carlo Scarpa and Mario De Luigi, as well as Swedish designers such as Ove Thorssén and Birgitta Karlsson, attesting to an international outlook.

In the 1990s, collaborations with fashion emerged, such as with designer Gianni Versace, who personally designed the V.V.V. collection (Vetri Versace Venini). The list of collaborations and recognitions could go on at length.

Venini is considered an ambassador of Made in Italy and of excellent Venetian glass culture, preserving a rich cultural heritage that includes 125 “secret recipes” dedicated to color compositions. One of the most intriguing design brands in Italian culture.