In 1931, Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum held an exhibition of modern Italian decorative arts that encompassed the fields of ceramics, glass and lace work. This unheralded exhibition is important because it was not an Italian exhibition like the Biennales of Venice or Monza but an international event that heralded the current work of the major companies. There are few records of the exhibition but there remains a comprehensive catalogue that accompanied the exhibition, a 70+ page catalog, filled with illustrations, some in color, of the work of the glass companies Artistica Barovier, MVM Cappellin, Venini e C., S.A.L.I.R., Ferro Toso, and Libero Vitali. Richard-Ginori and Lenci represented the ceramics industry and the lacework companies Jesurum, Casa Bianchini di Venezia, Olga Asta, Melville e Ziffer, Bice Colleoni from Verona, Aemilia-Ars from Bologna, Merletti di Saonara of Padova, and Mario Zennaro from Rapallo represented the lace industry. The glass section featured an unpublished series of work by Barovier, the Decorazioni policrome ‘900 series of vases, and his Primavera glass. The work of Carlo Scarpa, including the Geometrische series was highlighted in Cappellin’s section, as was the work of Napoleone Martinuzzi for Venini. The Richard–Ginori section of the catalogue highlighted the last work that Gio Ponti would do for the company. This exhibition marked the end of a very fertile period of Italian decorative arts since Martinuzzi would soon leave Venini, MVM Cappellin would enter bankruptcy, Artistica Barovier changed directions, Ponti would concentrate on Domus and the worldwide depression and the rise of Fascism would reshape every industry in Italy.
