VENINI 1940 By Carlo Scarpa Murano Battuto Red Art Glass Vase

A Battuto red vase designed by Carlo Scarpa (1906-1978) for Venini.

This is an extremely rare art-glass vase designed by the architect Carlo Scarpa for the Venini company, back in 1940. This vase was masterfully hand-bowed at the Venini atelier located in the Murano island and finished with the difficult technique of Battuto. This is the Venini shape model 3758 in red glass. It belongs to the Battuto series, in fact the entire surface of the glass is characterized by dense and deep horizontal grindings (beatings). The splendid transparent red color gives great liveliness to this extraordinary piece.

Battuto

An Italian term for "beaten" is a cold-working art glass technique where the surface of a finished glass piece is hand-ground with wheels to create small, irregular, hammered-like indentations. Developed in the 1930s-40s by Carlo Scarpa at Venini & Co. in Murano, it simulates metalworking, often producing a stone-like or hammered silver effect. 

Carlo Scarpa

He was an Italian architect and designer. He was influenced by the materials, landscape, and history of Venetian culture, as well as that of Japan. Scarpa translated his interests in history, regionalism, invention, and the techniques of the artist and craftsman into ingenious glass and furniture design. This Venetian architect and designer revolutionized Murano glass as the artistic director for Venini from 1932 to 1946/1947. He introduced modernist, minimalist, and textured techniques, creating iconic, sophisticated styles like Battuto, Corroso, Sommerso, Filigrana, and Tessuto. His 15-year tenure produced over two dozen styles, blending ancient craftsmanship with contemporary design.

Country: Murano Venezia, Italy.

Period: Mid-century, 1950.

Designer: Carlo Scarpa, (2 June 1906 – 28 November 1978).

Model: Venini model-3758.

Edition: Unique piece.

Technique: Horizontal battuto at the wheel.

Weight: 1.84 pounds or 833.7 Grams, (0.84 Kg.). 

Measurements: Height 241.3 mm; Diameter in the base 76.2 mm; Diameter on top is 57.1 mm. (9.5 x 3 x 2.25 Inches).

Signature: Clearly signed at the bottom with the early two lines acid stamp, reading as follows, "VENINI MURANO".

Venini

Beginning in the 1930s and throughout the postwar years, 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.

Literature: Carlo Scarpa Venini 1932-1947, Barovier, pg. 368 illustrates similar example for the technique.

Condition: The overall condition of this Venini-Carlo Scarpa vase is excellent. Beside the normal traces of wear at the base, there is absolutely no damage, cracks or repairs. This vase was carefully inspected to guarantee the condition & authenticity.

INVENTORY REF: D030326TENM/.5540