Name: Carlo Nason LT 320 Model “Cactus” Floor Lamp in Murano and Steel for Mazzega
Brand: Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Rating: 5 (27 reviews)

About the Item

As a descendant of a family that has been specialized in making Murano glass for generations, it was Carlo Nason who changed his course in relation to his relatives. While father Vincenzo was mainly concerned with traditional and beautifully decorated glass works, Carlo joined the modernist movement and started experimenting. In addition to designs for manufacturers I TRE, Kalmar, Vistosi, Murano Due, and Firme di Vetro, among others, he has had a longstanding collaboration with Mazzega.The urge to produce modern lamps led Nason to collaborate with Gianni Mazzega. A good friend of the family. The 1970s and 1980s that followed were his most creative and productive years and he was responsible for the vast majority of Mazzega's designs. Design This beautiful floor lamp called “Cactus” consists of a metal construction that is cross-connected with rods at four different heights. These also serve directly as a fixture for the four light sources that are positioned at an appropriate distance from each other. There are numerous round hooks on the frame on which the glass leaves can be hung. By means of adjustment screws it is possible to determine whether the leaves hang out a bit more or, when the screws are tightened, come closer to the frame. The leaves come in three different sizes respectively small, medium and large, and can be hung in various ways.The specific technique used for the twenty-five glass leaves is called ghiacco and is characterized by the cracked appearance. This effect is achieved by dipping the hot glass in cold water to first crack the surface. Later, the cracks are covered with another layer of molten glass. The result of this process is that the cracks appear through a clear layer of glass as if they were made of ice. When the lights are off, the glass has a breathtaking changing blue glow, while when the lights are turned on, a yellow warm haze is added. Condition The condition of the lamp is very good and its frame shows a diffuse patina. Minor scratches and color differences can be seen on the frame.

Creator:
Mazzega (Manufacturer),Carlo Nason (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 55.12 in (140 cm)Width: 18.9 in (48 cm)Depth: 18.9 in (48 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Murano Glass,Steel
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1960-1969
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Hellouw, NL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU5583238907452

Shop All Carlo Nason

Carlo Nason

A mid-century modern reference for today’s Murano glassmakers, Carlo Nason influenced the current tradition of glassmaking on an island renowned for it for hundreds of years. Celebrated for their exceptional designs, Nason’s lighting fixtures are sought after by collectors worldwide.

Learning to design and craft pieces from the family vetreria — rather than partaking in any formal training — Nason was working with the maestros at his family’s company furnace, V. Nason & C., attached to their family home by the time he was 11 years old. Although his roots are in Murano glassmaking, he took inspiration from the clean lines and natural colors of the Japanese metal vases he had seen in his youth at Milanese fairs.

Wanting to produce modern glass lamps, Nason worked with his family friend Gianni Mazzega of Mazzega Murano. For his Cascata chandelier (Italian for “waterfall”), which debuted in the 1960s, Nason achieved the effect of cascading water through an inverted pyramid of hanging glass plates, each individually mouth-blown and suspended from a chrome-plated frame for a dazzling, Art Deco–styled display.

The 1970s and 1980s were productive and creative years for Nason as the sole and independent designer at Mazzega Murano. His prolific career has also seen him design for other lighting manufacturers like I TRE, Murano Due and Kalmar.

After a mere four years as a glassmaker, Carlo Nason had his creations displayed at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. The credit for the artisan’s pieces that were included in “Glass 1959” went to his family’s company, but the designs were all authored by Carlo.

Stepping away from the traditional, vibrant Murano stylings, Nason kept true to his inspiration, working with modern and simple forms that are relatively free of color. Nason told Palainco in a rare 2019 interview that his emotions inspired the shapes. And his legacy includes fixtures that are irreplicable and unreproducible, too — Nason made lighting pieces with multiple layers of glass that would be too costly or difficult to recreate today, and some designs were made with processes and materials now unavailable or banned in the glassmaking world.

Find an array of vintage Carlo Nason table lamps, floor lamps, decorative objects and more on 1stDibs.

More From This Seller

View All

Carlo Nason LT 320 “Cactus” Floor Lamp in Yellow Murano for Mazzega, Italy 1960s

By Carlo Nason, Mazzega

Located in Hellouw, NL

A rare design with a distinct silhouette, this “Cactus” floor lamp by Carlo Nason shows how bold shapes and refined technique can come together in lighting. Designed in collaboration...

Category