Napoleone Martinuzzi for Venini red Cactus Succulent sculpture, Signed, 1929.

Exceedingly rare example of a signed Venini succulent by Matinuzzi. Museum-worthy masterwork by Martinuzzi during his groundbreaking tenure as artistic director of Venini. Large-scale. Original brass frame.

This stunning pulegoso glass and gold leaf “pianta grassa” is in very good antique condition with no apparent signs of repair. Acid etched Venini signature is at bottom. Lovely contrasting white glass rim on pot. Playful use of co lot with the green pot and red cactus. Interesting to see this “pop” use of color in figurative sculpture at this early date (1920’s).

The signature is important in terms of dating the piece as an extremely early, ‘Venini era’ succulent. Martinuzzi’s first succulent sculptures date to 1929 and he left Venini in 1931. Therefore, this piece has to have been made in late 1929 or 1930. The vast majority of Mattinuzzi succulents were sculpted after his tenure at Venini and are either unsigned (1931-1950s) or signed ‘Martinuzzi’ (1960s-1970s).

Literature:

Model 2469 in Venini catalogue as seen in Napoleone Martinuzzi Venini 1925-1931 by Marino Barovier, page 275.