Napoleone Martinuzzi, Bassotto Giallo (Yellow Dachsund) sculpture, white & gold Venini Murano 1930 Exceedingly rare example of a signed Venini large-scale Dachsund Dog Sculpture by Napoleone Matinuzzi. Museum-worthy masterwork by Martinuzzi during his groundbreaking tenure as artistic director of Venini.

This stunning opaque murano white glass and gold leaf is in very good antique condition with no apparent signs of repair. Acid etched Venini signature is at belly. (see photos).

Italy, c. 1928

Lattimo glass with gold leaf

literature: Vetri di Murano del '900: 50 Capolavori, Cocchi, pg. 31 illustrates similar example Napoleone Martinuzzi: Venini 1925-1931, Barovier, ppg. 252-253 illustrate similar examples

Born on Murano in 1892, Napoleone Martinuzzi was the son of an accomplished glass blower. He attended the Belle Arti in Venice and was part of the Ca’ Pezzaro Secessionist group where, in 1908, he began to exhibit his sculptures. Over the next decade Martinuzzi exhibited widely in Europe, eventually becoming one of Italy’s most influential Novecento sculptors.

In 1921 he became Director of the Murano Museum and in 1925, the Artistic Director at Venini. Martinuzzi’s bold use of experimental, semi-opaque glass (Pulegoso, Lattimo, Calcedonio) brought a new sculptural materialism to Murano. His use of large-scale forms from classical antiquity executed in vibrant colors set a new standard for Murano glass design.

Fulvio Bianconi and Alfredo Barbini

The style of the dog reminds of the Bassotto Giallo of a comic strip very popular in Italy in the 1920s and 1930s, le avventure del signor Bonaventura. In that period Dachshund became very popular for the growing middle class. Ludwig Bemelmans Noodle is another example.

Materials and techniques: Art Glass, Massiccio, Gold leaf, lattimo.

Condition: Pristine. No aging signs detected. Punty rod attachment detachment visible on belly.