For nearly 80 years, the Murano Cenedese glass factory has been renowned for its exquisite handcrafted glass creations. Founded in Venice, Italy in 1946 by master glassblower Gino Cenedese (1907-1973). He initially started the factory with several other glass masters of the time: Alfredo Barbini, Gino Fort, Angelo Tosi and Pietro Scaramal.  Gino Cenedese took full control of art factory in 1949. Cenedese Glass quickly established itself as one of the most sought-after glass brands in the world.

Gino Cenedese was a true visionary. With a deep respect for the artistic heritage of Murano glassmaking and an innate talent for creating beautiful and innovative pieces, Cenedese quickly rose to fame in the international art scene. His innovative designs captured people’s imaginations and earned him numerous awards and accolades over the years.

Despite Gino’s early death in 1973, the legacy of Murano Cenedese lives on today through its stunning works of art. Whether you are admiring a radiant sculpture or sipping from a delicate goblet, each piece is a testament to Gino’s tireless dedication to beauty and craftsmanship.

Cenedese’s Collaboration with Artists and Designers

Over the years Gino Cedenese invited many of the most talented glass designers and artists to work at the factory including: Napoleone Martinuzzi, Antonio da Ros, Riccardo Licata, Ermanno Nason and Fulvio Bianconi.

Though remaining closely bound to the ancient tradition of classical Murano glass – with hand blown glasses, vases, dishes, goblets and Venetian chandeliers – the production opened to the suggestions of contemporary art, pushed by a continuous research for new techniques and effects made possible by glass, and taking advantage of the collaboration with various artists and designers, each one bringing his personal interpretation of the material, colour, and light, each pieces marked out by the manual skill and the talent of the masters. Source ars cedenese web site.

Napoleone Martinuzzi

Napoleone Martinuzzi was a sculptor who worked for the prestigious Cenedese glass factory from 1953 to 1958. Throughout his career, Martinuzzi demonstrated a masterful command of the medium, creating striking glass sculptures with great skill and precision. Martinuzzi’s pieces were admired for their fluidity and grace, with many critics praising his use of color and texture to achieve beautiful effects. At the same time, however, Martinuzzi also had a deep appreciation for traditional arts like wood carving and sculpture and sought to incorporate these elements into his work. By blending modern techniques with classical forms and ideas, Napoleone Martinuzzi became one of the leading figures in the world of glass sculpture.

When deciding what piece to display by Napoleone Martinuzzi we thought this piece The Creation of the World shows why he became one of the leading figures in the world.

The Creation of the World designed 1953 for Vetreria Gino Cenedese, two illuminated columns each inset with applied glass scavo panels depicting Adam and Eve, human figures, flora, fauna and fish each column 80 1/2in (204.5cm); width 16in (40.5cm); depth 8 1/2in (21.5cm). Sold for US$ 50,312 inc. premium at Bonhams, New York, December 2021.

Antonio da Ros

Antonio da Ros was a talented glass designer who worked for the Cenedese factory in the 1960s. Throughout his career, Antonio was known for his innovative and creative approach to glass design. He is perhaps best-known for his unique “submerged” glass forms, which feature an asymmetrical shape that seems to almost vanish into thin air. Antonio had a unique ability to see potential in ordinary, everyday objects like vases and vessels, and his work transformed the medium of glass into something both beautiful and ethereal.

a local artist fascinated by the decorative and chromatic possibilities of glass, who brought a fresh and enthusiastic approach that led to the search of unprecedented forms and chromatic effects. With Da Ros, the Sixties saw an important creation of the “submerged” glass forms among which the “Contrappunti”, fluids submerged playing on different tones of colours Source ars cedenese web site.

Riccardo Licata

Riccardo Licata (b, 1929) was a talented glass designer who worked for the prestigious Cedenese glass factory in Italy. Throughout his career, Riccardo focused on creating beautiful and intricate designs that brought out the natural beauty of glass. His most famous work is perhaps the glass fish aquarium block sculpture that he designed in 1952. This innovative piece captures the energy and gracefulness of swimming fish while also showcasing Riccardo’s remarkable skill as a glass artist. Today, Riccardo’s work continues to be admired and celebrated by artists and designers all over the world, and he remains an inspiration to aspiring glass designers everywhere.

Ermanno Nason

Ermanno Nason was a master glass-craftsman and artist who worked for the Cedenese glass factory from 1963 to 1972. He is best known for his innovative use of color and light in his glasswork. Nason’s pieces are characterized by their bold, vibrant colors and clean lines.

He is best known for his “Nason e Vidal” line of stemware, which was produced by the factory. In addition to stemware, Nason also designed a number of other glass products, including bowls, vases, and Ashtrays. His work is characterized by its clean lines and simple forms. Nason’s work was influenced by the Italian Modernist movement, as well as by Scandinavian design.

Ermanno Nason’s work is highly sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts alike. His pieces can be found in some of the world’s most prestigious museums, including the Museo di Vetro di Murano in Italy and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.

Fulvio Bianconi

Fulvio Bianconi was a talented glass-craftsman who worked for the Cedenese glass factory from 1954 to 1962. During this time, he developed a revolutionary technique for working with glass that involved using both heat and pressure to create stunning works of art. Bianconi’s original pieces combined a number of different textured elements, each layer perfectly balanced against the next. His work quickly gained acclaim in the art world, and today his pieces are considered some of the finest examples of contemporary glass-craft.

Pushing the Boundaries through Collaboration

Over the years, Murano Cedenese has emerged as one of the leaders in glass manufacturing. Their long history of working with some of the world’s most renowned glass artists has helped Murano glass become known and treasured all over the globe. This collaborative approach has allowed Murano to continually push the boundaries of what is possible with glass, resulting in a wide range of intricate and eye-catching creations. Whether it’s a sculptural vase or exquisite chandelier, Murano glass is known for its exceptional craftsmanship and beauty. And this legacy will no doubt continue well into the future, as Murano continues to collaborate with top artists to create stunning new works that celebrate the amazing medium of glass. In short, Murano Cedenese’s legacy and ongoing success can be attributed to their commitment to collaborating with leading artists to explore new possibilities in glass crafting.

Related
ARS Cedenese web site