Profiles of the Glassmakers: Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin, Venini & C. (1921-1925) Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C. (1925-1985) Venini S.p.a. (from 1985) ** EOS Design nel Vetro (1986-1992) Founding: Paolo Venini, a native of Cusano (near Milan) who trained as an attorney, and Giacomo Cappellin, a native of Venice with an antique shop in Milan, joined by Luigi Ceresa and Emilio Hochs, founded (1921) Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Cappellin, Venini & C. The new firm purchased the glass factory of Andrea Rioda & C. (though several of its glassblowers left to form another firm, Successori Andrea Rioda & C.) The firm formed by Cappellin and Venini--infused with the Milan taste and contacts of its founders--was destined to become the most widely acclaimed glass producer of the modern period. Developmental Events: 1922 The firm opened retail shops in Venice and Paris, followed by Milan in the following year. 1925 Giacomo Cappellin left the firm to found Maestri Vetrai Muranesi Cappellin & C., taking with him Vittorio Zecchin, the firm's Artistic Director, and all of its master glassblowers. The firm reorganized as Vetri Soffiati Muranesi Venini & C., and Napoleone Martinuzzi joined as a Director. Other owners included Francesco Zecchin and the firm's new master glassblowers, notably Arturo Biasutto and Ferdinando Toso. 1931 Napoleone Martinuzzi and Francesco Zecchin, left the firm to found Zecchin-Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici. 1941 Production through 1945 was first limited and then suspended because of World War II hostilities. 1959 Paolo Venini died. Ginette (Gignous) Venini, his widow, and Ludovico Diaz di Santillana, the husband of their daughter Anna, succeeded him as Directors and Artistic Directors of the firm. 1972 The firm's archives and glass collection were destroyed by a fire at its plant. 1976 Laura Diaz de Santillana, daughter of Ludovico Diaz di Santillana and Anna Venini, joined the firm. 1981 Alessandro Diaz de Santillana, son of Ludovico Diaz di Santillana and Anna Venini, joined the firm. 1985 The Gardini and Ferruzzi families purchased the firm from the Venini/Diaz di Santillana family. The firm was reorganized as Venini S.p.a. 1986 Ludovico Diaz de Santillana founded EOS Design nel Vetro, a new firm with his daughter Laura as Artistic Director. Prior to closing in 1992, the new firm utilized designs by Alessandro Diaz de Santillana, Mary Ann ["Toots"] Zynsky and Lino Tagliapietra, among others. 1988 The firm purchased the factory of Salviati & C. and continued to supply products for sale through the retail shops which Salviati & C. retained. 1998 The Royal Scandinavia Group of Denmark purchased control of the firm from the Gardini and Ferruzzi families. Artistic Directors: 1921-1925 Vittorio Zecchin 1925-1931 Napoleone Martinuzzi 1959-1980 Ginette (Gignous) Venini 1959-1985 Ludovico Diaz di Santillana 1980-1985 Laura Diaz de Santillana Master glassblowers: Giovanni Seguso ["Nane Patare"] Ceno Barovier Rafael Ferro Attilio Moratto Malvino Pavanello Arturo ["Boboli"] Biasutto Ferdinando Toso Mario ["il Grasso"] Tosi Francesco["Checco"] Ongaro Other technical personnel: Francesco Zecchin Designers: Tomaso Buzzi (1932-4) Carlo Scarpa (1933-43, 1961) Tyra Lundgren (1936-8, 1948) Gio Ponti (1956-8) Fulvio Bianconi (1947-54, 1965-6, 1968-9) Pietro Fornasetti Eugene Berman (1951) Kenneth Scott (1951) Riccardo Licata (1953) Massimo Vignelli (1954-7, 1962-3) Franco Albini (1954) Grete Korsmo (1959) Tobia Scarpa (1959-60) Thomas Stearns (1960-2) Pierantonio Zuccheri (1963-7, 1978, 1981) Tapio Wirkkala (1966-82) Miroslav Hrstka (1967-8) Sergio Asti (1968-74) Dale Chihuly (1969-70) Ove Thorssen and Brigitta Karlsson (1972, 1975) James Carpenter (1981) Mary Ann ["Toots"] Zynsky (1981-4) Tina Aufiero (1982-3) Alessandro Diaz de Santillana (1982-5)   © 2001 C. I. Gable