Paolo Venini 1895–1959
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
Paolo Venini
a Murrine vase, model 4704
estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $65,000
Paolo Venini
a Dame Murrine vase, model 3910
estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $60,000
Paolo Venini
Mosaico Tessuto vase
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $54,000
Paolo Venini
rare a Murrine Battuto vase
estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $46,250
Paolo Venini
Rare Mosaico Tessuto vase, model 3850
estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $42,500
Paolo Venini
Murrine plate
estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $42,500
Paolo Venini
Mosaico Tessuto vase, model 3887
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $35,000
Paolo Venini
a Murrine vase
estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $30,000
Paolo Venini
a Murrine plate, model 4881
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $25,000
Paolo Venini
A Puntini Murrine vase
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $25,000
Paolo Venini
rare a Murrine plate
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $25,000
Paolo Venini
A Puntini Murrine vase
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $23,750