Carlo Nason for AV Mazzega, Italy, ca. 1970

CARLO NASON (Murano, 1935), for Mazzega.
Table lamp "Lotus" (model LT 300). First edition, 1970's.
Murano glass petals and metal base.
Bibliography: R. Chiesa, A. Zannoni, Carlo Nason, Glass Designer, pp. 80.
This product is an original vintage item, so it shows signs of wear and tear.
Measurements: 42 x 40 x 40 cm.

This chandelier is one of the most emblematic pieces of the collaboration between designer Carlo Nason and the historic glassworks A.V. Mazzega in the 1970s. It represents the pinnacle of Space Age Murano design, where the traditional technique of glassblowing is put at the service of organic and modern forms.

As its name suggests, the chandelier abstracts the shape of a lotus flower at the moment of opening. It is composed of four large curved glass plates or petals that intertwine and overlap without touching at the top, creating a sense of movement and lightness despite the weight of the material.

With considerable measurements, it is not a simple auxiliary lamp, but a luminous sculpture with great physical presence.

The petals are made of thick Murano glass. The glossy opal white finish stands out. A quality detail, visible on the edges of the plates, is the transparency of the glass in the cut, which shows that it is jacketed or massive glass, not superficially painted.

The light source is hidden inside the glass cocoon. When lit, the light filters through the multiple layers of opal glass. It emits a soft, silky, glare-free ambient light.

Carlo Nason was born into one of Murano's oldest glassmaking families, but broke with classical tradition to explore the modern idiom. His designs for Mazzega in the 1970s are characterized by the use of large glass modules and a clean, unadorned construction. The LT 300 model is a perfect example of how Nason transformed glass into domestic architecture.