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Carlo Nason

Italian, b. 1935

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.

Average Sold Price
$3,116
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Pair of Triedri Curvati Murano Glass Flush Mount by Carlo Nason for Venini
By Venini, Carlo Nason
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing pair of glass chandelier or ceiling light with four layers of curving “triedri” glass prisms on a brass frame, designed by Carlo Nason for Venini, Italy. A dynamic form, chan...
Category

1970s Italian Modern Vintage Carlo Nason

Materials

Blown Glass

Carlo Nason LT 320 Model “Cactus” Floor Lamp in Murano and Steel for Mazzega
By Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in Hellouw, NL
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 Vin...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Nason

Materials

Steel

Floor Lamp LT316 Murano Glass by Carlo Nason for Mazzega, Italy, 1970s
By Mazzega, Carlo Nason
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern Space Age Iconic white smoke Sfumato blown Murano glass, brass base floor lamp first edition model LT316 by Carlo Nason for the manufacture Mazzega. Tall 7 element...
Category

1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Carlo Nason

Materials

Metal

Large original 1960's Nason Mazzega Murano Chandelier, 180 Interlocking Elements
By Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in London, GB
This is a large elegant 12 bulbs original 1960's classic tiered Murano chandelier with around 180 C shaped transparent Mazzega Murano interlocking glass elements by Carlo Nason, all ...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Nason

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano pendant lamp LS 134 Medusa by Carlo Nason Italy 1960s
By Carlo Nason
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Introducing a truly elegant and exceptional piece of artistry, the "Medusa" LS134 Murano glass lamp by renowned Italian designer Carlo Nason. This lamp is recognized by connoisseurs ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Nason

Materials

Murano Glass

LS 134 Medusa Glass Hanging Lamp by Carlo Nason for Mazzega, 1960s
By Mazzega, Carlo Nason
Located in Lasne, BE
Hanging lamp in transparent glass. Adjustable height. Wear due to time and age of the chandelier.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Nason

Materials

Glass, Murano Glass

Murano Glass Chandelier Carlo Nason for Mazzega, 1960
By Carlo Nason
Located in Palermo, PA
Stunning 1970s chandelier crafted by Carlo Nason in Murano, Italy, circa 1960. This exquisite piece features five distinct bubble-shaped Murano glasses in both white and transparent ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Nason

Materials

Chrome, Metal

Red Murano Glass Vase by Carlo Nason for Mazzega, 1970s
By Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in Milan, IT
Sculptural clear and red Murano glass vase designed in the 1970s by Carlo Nason for Mazzega.
Category

1970s Vintage Carlo Nason

Materials

Murano Glass

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Creators Similar to Carlo Nason

More Carlo Nason Designs
Carlo Nason Cascata Chandelier
Carlo Nason Cascata Chandelier
Average Price
$3,354
Number Available
19
Carlo Nason Cascata Chandelier
By Carlo Nason
Materials
Glass, Metal, Murano Glass
Styles
Mid Century Modern
Hailing from Murano, the Venetian island known for its rich history of glassmaking, and from one of the oldest glassblowing families in the region, Carlo Nason (b. 1935) may well have been destined to go into the business. But the glass forms for which he became known — such as the Cascata chandelier — eschew tradition, displaying instead an intrepid innovation born of continual experimentation. This singular column of rippling glass plates exemplifies the designer’s deft ability to create ne...
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Carlo Nason furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Carlo Nason furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Carlo Nason furniture, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 519 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 7 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Carlo Nason were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Vico Magistretti, Joe Colombo, and Gaetano Sciolari. Prices for Carlo Nason furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $215 and can go as high as $26,725, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,800.

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