The 13in (33cm) vase offered on June 6 at Chicago design specialist Wright (26/20% buyer’s premium) was from the rarified Pennellate (brushstrokes) series.
The technique involved decorating a clear glass vessel with small amounts of opaque glass (here in orange and red) while it was being blown. Spinning the glass created the irregular painterly effect of brushstrokes.
This vase, model 3664, is similar to another pictured in the 2012 catalogue Carlo Scarpa: Venini 1932-1947 that is dated c.1942.
Carlo Scarpa Pennellate vase designed for Venini, $100,000 (£79,100) at Wright.
These were notably difficult to make and relatively few have come to market. However, this was the second example Wright had offered in as many sales.
Thrift store surprise
Back in December, the firm sold another example of this vase in turquoise and iron red that had been a charity shop find. Although fully signed to the base with a three-line acid stamp reading Venini Murano Italia it had been bought at a thrift store in Richmond, Virginia, for just $3.99.
Described by Wright as one of the rarest pieces the firm had offered in more than a decade, it was guided at $30,000-50,000 and hammered at $85,000.
This red and orange variant did even better. Estimated at the same level, it took $100,000 (£79,100).
