Paolo Venini

Paolo Venini (12 January 1895– 22 July 1959)[1] emerged as one of the leading figures in the production of Murano glass and an important contributor to twentieth century Italian design.

After serving in the Royal Italian Army in World War I, he trained as a lawyer[2] and began his practice in Milan.

[2][6] Venini embarked on collaborations with architects and designers such as Cini Boeri, Tomaso Buzzi [it], Gio Ponti, Carlo Scarpa, Ettore Sottsass, Alessandro Mendini, Tapio Wirkkala, Gae Aulenti, Tyra Lundgren, Mona Morales-Schildt, and Massimo Vignelli (who would also go on to design the company's new graphic identity and logo in 1982).

"[1] The practice of working with notable designers has continued and includes more recent collaborations with Tadao Ando, Asymptote, Barber & Osgerby, the Campana brothers, and Peter Marino.

[12] In 2002 the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain staged an exhibition called “Fragilisme di Alessandro Mendini” the centrepiece of which was a Venini glass sculpture titled "Guerrier de Verre".