Handshake, a Post-War Lattimo Art Glass Sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini

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An exceptionally rare figurine by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini & Co.

Referred to as 'Handshake', the model consists of a … Read more An exceptionally rare figurine by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini & Co.

Referred to as 'Handshake', the model consists of a gloved hand with a scalloped cuff shaking hands with a naked hand in lattimo glass.

This model was part of important series designed by Bianconi under the direction or Paolo Venini. Marino Barovier and Carlo Senego in their 2015 book, Fulvio Biancioni at Venini (Skira Publishing), point out that Bianconi designed a series of related hands, gloves, and other 19th-century inspired 'fashion accessories' in the late 1940s for the 8th Triennale of Milan. In producing this series, Bianconi channeled Paolo Venini's frustration with the Triennale's narrowly defined categories for the Venini factory's works. They both conceived this series to be an open challenge to the Triennale's antiquated inflexiblity in understanding the "Applied Arts." In the end, these Works of Art in Glass were cataloged at the Triennale as "table accessories" along with fruit bowls and flower stands of the same materials - a highly ironic juxtaposition fully intended by Venini and Bianconi. (Fulivio Bianconi at Venini, Marino Barovier and Carlo Senego, Skira Publishing, 2015)

Apparently, 'Handshake' was also used in Venini advertising in 1948.

The side is marked in an acid-etched three line factory mark: Venini / Murano / ITALIA

A visually wonderful (and important art historical) addition to any sophisticated collection!

For similar examples, please see p. 315 in Fulivio Bianconi at Venini, Marino Barovier and Carlo Senego, Skira Publishing, 2015.

Measures: Width: ca. 7 3/4 in. See less