Important Italian Design 
6 December 2005
Important Italian Design 
606

Paolo Venini

Mosaico Tessuto vase

Venini
Italy, 1954
glass 9¼ h × 6 w × 3 d in (23 × 15 × 8 cm)
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $54,000
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The patchwork technique is created by rolling blown glass over colorful glass threads. Examples from this series are extremely rare. Signed with a Venini paper label.
literature: Art Glass from Murano, Heiremans, pg. 279 illustrates a similar example

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Paolo Venini 1895–1959

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Paolo Venini was born in Cusano, Italy on January 12, 1895 to a middle class Lombard family. As a young man he studied law in Milan. During the first war he was stationed near Venice where he became fascinated with the glass mosaics and stained glass of St. Mark’s cathedral. After the war he began a law practice but soon came under the influence of Venetian art and antiquities dealer Giacomo Cappellin who convinced the young Venini to join him as a business partner in a new Murano glass enterprise in 1921. Since then it has become almost impossible to discuss the life of Paolo Venini as separate from his company—all the available biographical material about him lacks personal detail and inevitably lists towards the celebrated history of the company. Venini’s biography is, therefore, the story of a man whose literal personality has been subsumed by his professional life and persona.

Auction Results Paolo Venini

Paolo Venini

Important Mosaico Tessuto vase

estimate: $100,000–150,000

result: $173,000

Paolo Venini

Rare and Important Mosaico Tessuto vase

estimate: $90,000–120,000

result: $117,500

Paolo Venini

a Murrine vase, model 3670

estimate: $40,000–60,000

result: $75,000

Paolo Venini

Murrine vase

estimate: $20,000–30,000

result: $72,100
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