Holy cow! I was so excited when we found this vase. It is unsigned but attributed to Fulvio Bianconi for Venini. Called the Fasce Ritorte vase, model 4410. It was designed in 1951 and gets its name from the spiraled ribbons of colored glass. It is depicted in the book Fulvio Bianconi at Venini, edited by Barovier and Sonego, on page 280. This vase came from a highly regarded estate here in my home town of Topeka.

Fulvio Bianconi was a graphic designer turned glass designer. He was one of the most famous post-war graphic designers in Italy. In 1946 he travelled many times to Murano to learn about glassmaking and fell in love with the art. There he met Paolo Venini who subsequently invited the young Bianconi to collaborate with his glassworks. And…..a legend was born. Bianconi, using his skills as a graphic designer, pushed the limits of traditional glassmaking both in materials and processes, and theory and practice.

What’s the best combination of an antiques dealer and a lawyer? When its Giacomo Cappellin and Paolo Venini in 1926 when they partnered to form the MVM Cappellin & C glassworks and changed the course of Murano glass. They dissolved their partnership in 1925 with Paolo Venini founding his own company. Venini personally managed his company until his death in 1959. Many great glass designers, including Venini himself as well at Bianconi, have made Venini & C. a name to be reckoned with in the Murano glass world particularly from 1948 to 1965.

This is one of the most dynamic and gorgeous pieces of glass I had ever seen in the pages of a book. And, seeing it in person and handling it have not diminished that! This is a piece you should not deny yourself. Make it yours.