SOLD
Large cased Murano glass pendant by the Italian designer Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi, Italy, 1960.
Dimensions: height of the lamp: 11.0 in. (28 cm), diameter orange glass: 19.7 inches (50 cm). From ceiling till drop: 35.0 inches (89 cm).
The fixture is equipped with the original, regular (E26-E27) Edison screw lamp socket. Max. 70 Watt. The electric parts are in a very good condition.
 
The pendant on offer was designed by one of Vistosi’s most prolific designers: Alessandro Pianon (1931-1984). Pianon was trained as an architect and designer at the Architecture Institute in his hometown Venice. Just like many other Venetian artists Pianon ventured into glass design, as he joined Murano based Vetreria Vistosi in 1956. Starting out by drawing the Vistosi logo, Pianon went on to design several lighting fixtures and the famous Pulcino birds for the company. After Pianon opened his own design studio in 1962, he got assigned by a number of other Italian lighting companies as well, like Lumenform (Venice) and Caprotti (Monza).
 
This particular model, which was given the Vistosi factory code L121, was designed around 1960. The large mouth blown orange shade, executed in the incamiciato (overlay) technique, is supported by an opalescent white balloon, which in turn is being held by a brushed metal holder. Since a Murano sticker is still present on the shade and both the glass and metal parts are in an excellent condition we assume that the lamp has never been used.
 
The Vistosi family has been active in the field of art glass for over three centuries. Fascinated by the esthetics and production methods of modern design, Gugliemo Vistosi opened his own glassworks on the Murano island in 1945. By attracting excellent artists like Gae Aulenti, Vico Magistretti, Angelo Mangiarotti and Ettore Sottsass the company became a well known name over the last decades. Though Gugliemo’s nephews Luciano (1931-2010) and Gino (1925-1980), who joined the company by the mid 1950’s, played and equally important role in establishing this reputation by designing a large number of outstanding lamps.
 
Literature:
- Indoor Lightpocket (1967), p. A12.
- Vistosi Catalogue (n.d.)