After Paolo Venini’s death in 1959, his son-in-law, Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, took the company in a new direction. Responding to the tone of the times, Santillana began to invite artists from around the world to participate in a more open, creative atmosphere. A diverse group of designers contributed, and throughout the 1960s and beyond, Venini maintained and enhanced its reputation as Murano’s most innovative and forward-thinking company.
Gio Ponti
ARTIST | ARCHITECT | DESIGNER
WRITER | PUBLISHER
Designer, Venini 1946–1948
Ludovico Diaz de Santillana
ARCHITECT | DESIGNER
ENTREPRENEUR
Director, Venini 1959–1985
Tobia Scarpa
ARCHITECT | DESIGNER
Designer, Venini 1959–1962
Thomas Stearns
ARTIST | DESIGNER
Designer, Venini 1960–1962
Tapio Wirkkala
DESIGNER | SCULPTOR
Designer, Venini 1960s
Tobia Scarpa b. 1935
Tobia Scarpa has had a widely successful career with artistic outputs ranging from Murano glass and postmodern furniture to lighting and architecture. His design uses new technologies while elegantly maintaining form and function. He was born in Venice in 1935 to architect and glassmaker Carlo Scarpa whose stylistic influence would become prevalent in Tobia’s work.
While attending the Instituto Universitario di Architettura in Venice he met wife and colleague Afra Bianchin. After graduating in 1957, Scarpa apprenticed at Venini until 1961. Afra and Tobia became an incredible force collaborating on numerous important designs throughout their careers. In 1960 the couple designed and opened their office in her hometown of Montebelluna, Italy. Their most iconic designs include the Bastiano sofa (1961) for Gavina, the Soriana armchair (1968) for Cassina, the Coronado sofa (1966) for B&B Italia among many others for clients such as FLOS and Knoll International.
Auction Results Tobia Scarpa
