A tribute to the Maestri Vetrai (Master Glassblowers) of the renowned Murano glass producer, this exhibition opened May 17, 2003, at the Moss store in Soho. It included rare and historic pieces and also a new collection of over sixty limited-edition works created exclusively for Moss.
 Main stage, with chandeliers, phoenix and broken glass.
At different moments during the long production cycle, each object produced by Venini embodies a certain beauty particular to that phase of work. These "moments" remain part of the extraordinary yet hidden artisanal process that is glassmaking. (In ancient times Murano's glass-blowing techniques were such closely guarded secrets that no one was allowed to leave the island without official permission.) Murray Moss has interrupted particular phases of the process and, via this intervention, suspended indefinitely in various transitional states iconic designs spanning Venini's history.
Vasi con Cordone Ombelicale
 Main runway with vases on blowpipes and opalini.
In a group of vases Moss calls "Vasi con Cordone Ombelicale", designs by Paolo Venini, Carlo Scarpa, Fulvio Bianconi, Tapio Wirkkala, and Vittorio Zecchin remain on the blowpipe, whose function, in fact, is not unlike an "umbilical cord", connecting each Maestro to the object he forms at the other end. Caught in the moment just before their separation from the pipe, these objects, newly born, celebrate the source of their creation.
 Geacolor vase, in process.
These pieces were made exclusively for this installation, and each is inscribed "Venini per Moss, 17 Maggio 2003." They are limited to an edition of 19, and the remaining 18 will be without inscription.
 Opalini vasi, in process.
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Opalini per la Finitura in Moleria, in Barelle
In another instance, objects were stopped en route to the engravers and finishers and are shown still with the random, very individual red crayon markings drawn by the examiners in the Moleria. These purposeful "decorations", somewhere between graffiti and signature, serve as guides for the master polishers who work to eliminate the almost imperceptible variations, which occur naturally in each object.s surface.
Fornati vasi, in process.
Historic
Rare and historic works shown include the "Cavallo di Leonardo", the last of a limited-edition monumental sculpture created in 1993 by Ben Jakober and Yannick Vu after an equestrian sculpture conceived by Leonardo da Vinci, and "Araba Fenice", a one-off blown-glass and bronze Arabian Phoenix, commissioned in 1988 by Venini for the entrance foyer of the company.s headquarters in Murano. Neither of these pieces had previously been removed from their original location or been available for sale.
Saetti's window.
Also seen for the first time outside of Murano, Bruno Saetti's 1959 window created for the Church of San Domenico in Siena but never installed, has stood quietly outside of Carlo Scarpa's office at Venini for nearly forty-five years.
Cavello di Leonardo.
Finally, this exhibition re-introduces the extraordinary chandeliers first produced by Venini in the 1920's, and debuts illuminated sculpture created by artists Sandro Chia and Mimmo Rotella, as well as a collection of furniture designed by Rodolfo Dordoni.
Crystal wall sconce with 9 arms.
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