A Fasce Verticali by Fulvio Bianconi

“A Fasce Verticali” Vase, Model No. 4317 by Fulvio Bianconi (1915–1996) for Venini Murano, Italy, circa 1950.

Introduced around 1950, Model No. 4317 A Fasce Verticali is among the earliest and most accomplished creations from Fulvio Bianconi’s groundbreaking collaboration with Venini. Conceived during one of the most innovative periods in Murano glassmaking, the model perfectly illustrates Bianconi’s ability to transform colour into a structural element, creating works of remarkable graphic clarity and sculptural elegance.

The cylindrical body is animated by broad vertical bands of transparent coloured glass in ruby red, cobalt blue, emerald green and clear crystal, whose vibrant hues merge harmoniously within the blown form. Crowned by a subtly undulating rim, the vase possesses a restrained yet dynamic silhouette, while the rhythmic arrangement of the coloured bands creates a striking interplay of transparency, light and depth.

Entirely hand-blown at the Venini furnace, the apparent simplicity of the composition conceals a highly demanding execution requiring absolute precision in the placement and fusion of each coloured gather. The purity of the form allows the chromatic composition to become the principal decorative and architectural feature of the design.

Signed in acid beneath the base “venini murano ITALIA”, this example belongs to the earliest production of the model, a period widely regarded as the most inventive of Fulvio Bianconi’s career for Venini.

Today, Model No. 4317 A Fasce Verticali stands among the defining works of Fulvio Bianconi’s early production for Venini, exemplifying his decisive contribution to the renewal of Murano glass and to the emergence of Italian post-war design as one of the twentieth century’s foremost artistic achievements.