Mori by Paolo Venini

“Mori” by Paolo Venini, pair of blown glass wall lights.
Pair of Murano glass wall sconces, Moro model, designed by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, circa 1948-49.
The stylized figure, wearing a twisted dress of white and red glass, raises her arms to support three candle-shaped lights. Bianconi’s characteristic contrasts of black, red, and white highlight the refinement of Venetian glass art.
The Moro motif, or “Moor,” is a recurring theme in Venetian decorative arts, from sculpture and Murano glass to jewelry. It is not a faithful representation of any specific people, but rather a stylized figure, embodying exoticism and prestige in Venetian culture.
In the 20th century, Fulvio Bianconi and the Venini glassworks reinterpreted this motif in blown glass, transforming the figure into a theatrical yet refined light fixture. These creations reflect Bianconi’s taste for expressive forms and bold polychromy.
It is important to note that today, such representations may be viewed as problematic, as they convey a stereotyped vision of the “Other,” turned into a decorative object. Yet, within its historical context, this motif bears witness to Venice’s complex dialogue with distant worlds, and to the history of glassmaking that sought to captivate through color, form, and a sense of the exotic.