Venini Battuto Vase

"Battuto" is Italian for "beaten" or "struck," referring to a cold-working technique in which the cooled glass surface is ground and faceted with abrasive wheels. This process creates a hammered or chiseled texture that gives battuto glass pieces their distinctive textured surface.

Venini was founded in 1921 on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy, by Giacomo Cappellin and Paolo Venini. The glasshouse quickly became known for innovative designs that blended traditional Murano glassmaking with modern artistic sensibilities.

After a glass vessel is blown and allowed to cool, the surface is worked with grinding wheels to create shallow faceted cuts across the body. This cold-working process requires significant artisanal skill, as the craftsman must maintain an even pattern across the entire surface without cracking or weakening the glass.

Venini has collaborated with many prominent designers and artists, most notably Carlo Scarpa, who served as artistic director in the early 1930s and created innovative glass techniques. The company's tradition of collaborating with external architects and designers has continued into the 21st century with contributors like Tadao Ando.