In 1953, Ottavio “Tai” Missoni (1921–2013) and Rosita Missoni (b. 1931) opened a small knitwear shop in Gallarate, Italy, paving the way for what would become an iconic style of colorful chevron knit.
Missoni began with a tracksuit, which featured zippers down the legs because, as Rosita recalls it, “Tai was too lazy to take off his shoes when putting them on.” The couple’s fashion really took off, though, once they discovered the Raschel knitting machine on a trip to a shawl factory. The machine enabled the Missonis to knit multiple colors in a zigzag pattern, a motif that would go on to become synonymous with the Missoni brand across everything from its alluring vintage day dresses and sweaters to its purses, seating and rugs.
Missoni held its first fashion show in Florence in 1967 and caused a bit of a sensation when the models’ Lurex dresses proved translucent under the lights at the Pitti Palace. Scandal aside, the show went down in history as a hit, and the Missonis soon made their debut in the United States with the help of legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who gave the variegated Missoni stripe the Vogue seal of approval, saying, “Who says a rainbow has seven colors? It has many shades.” (It was also Vreeland who reportedly introduced the Missonis to Neiman Marcus president Stanley Marcus, effectively shepherding the brand to the American market.)
Missoni’s many-shaded rainbow would soon become an emblem of the 1970s fashion scene, earning the brand a permanent place in the fashion canon. In 1973, the New York Times proclaimed: “Missoni’s weaved garments have ended up universal materialistic trifles, as Vuitton sacks and Gucci shoes.” By then, Ottavio had been creating tapestries, and some of his knitted fabrics were shown in an exhibition at Galleria Il Naviglio in Venice in 1975.
The brand branched into the home market in 1983, with Rosita overseeing this new venture, Missoni Home, which included furniture, textiles and accessories. Daughter Angela succeeded her mother at the helm of the brand, where she served as creative director until 2021 and is currently president; her brother Luca is CEO, while her daughter Margherita was creative director of M Missoni, a modestly priced offshoot that was discontinued in 2021.
Find vintage Ottavio Missoni tapestries, rugs and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
Ottavio Missoni Italian Murano Glass "Mercurio" Plate for Arte Vetro Murano 1980
By Ottavio Missoni, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Murano glass plate designed by Ottavio Missoni and produced by Arte Vetro Murano in the 1980s. " If you like it please make your offer and we will eval...
Murano Glass
"Mercurio" by Ottavio Missoni 1980s Italian Design Murano Glass Plate
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Brescia, IT
"Mercurio" by Ottavio Missoni Arte Vetro Murano, 1980s Perfect condition.
Murano Glass
Ottavio Missoni Italian Murano Glass "Mercurio" Plate for Arte Vetro Murano 1980
By Ottavio Missoni, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Murano glass plate designed by Ottavio Missoni and produced by Arte Vetro Murano in the 1980s. " If you like it please make your offer and we will eval...
Murano Glass
$4,091
H 16.93 in W 6.3 in D 6.3 in
Italian Murano Glass Abstract Sculpture, Red Swirl, 1980s — Romano Donà
By Romano Donà
Located in Villaverla, IT
Italian Murano glass abstract sculpture crafted during the nineteen eighties showcases dynamic late-twentieth-century Venetian studio art glass design. Handcrafted in Italy, this str...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$5,435
H 17.25 in Dm 5 in
Vintage Anzolo Fuga for Avem Opalescent Murano Glass Vase Murrines Red, Purple
By Anzolo Fuga, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in North Miami, FL
This absolutely stunning and rare Italian Murano vintage opalescent glass vase by Anzolo Fuga for Avem has glorious applied murrines of colors of reds, browns with a purple hint. The...
Blown Glass
Murano Glass Centerpiece by Giancarlo Signoretto, Italy, 1980
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Smart Venetian centerpiece, signed Signoretto and dated 1980 : very important unique piece ! Handles: Two moors black heads with turbans.: it's a ...
Art Glass
$420 / set
H 7.38 in W 2.5 in D 1.5 in
Beautiful Lot of Four Murano Italian Art Glass Vegetable Fruit, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful collection of authentic Murano hand-blown Italian art glass sculptures, expertly crafted in the form of assorted fruits and vegetables. Showcasing vibrant colors and remark...
Murano Glass
Set of 6 Italian Murano glass tumblers 1980s
Located in Paris, IDF
This is a beautiful set of six colorful Murano glass tumblers made in Italy in the 1980s. These are inspired by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini tumblers...
Murano Glass
$2,125
H 3.35 in Dm 20.08 in
Very Large Vetro Soffiato Glass Dish by Vittorio Zecchin for Venini Murano
By Venini, Vittorio Zecchin
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Very large Vetro Soffiato glass dish by Vittorio Zecchin for Venini Murano ca. 1925 A very large 'vetro soffiato' glass dish in amethyst transparent glass, designed by Vittorio Zecchin in 1925 and manufactured by Venini, Murano Venice. Acid stamped signature 'venini murano' on the base. Venini model number 1306. The dish has been manufactured in different sizes, this is the larges version which is very rare. One of the early 20th century designs of Zecchin for Cappellin and Venini which motivated the muranese glass companies to set out for new shores. Good condition with some surface scratches. The last picture shows it together with a mid size version with 14.29" inches as comparison of the sizes. Measures: Height: 3.35" (8.5 cm) Diameter: 20.08" (51 cm) Literature Reference: Marino Barovier, Vittorio Zecchin: Transparent Glass for Cappellin and Venini, Milano 2017, pages 326, 336 and 357 Vittorio Zecchin (1878 - 1947) was a native Muranese and son of a glasswork technician. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Together with the painter Teodoro Wolf Ferrari...
Art Glass
$1,725
H 2.56 in Dm 16.54 in
Large Vetro Soffiato Glass Dish by Vittorio Zecchin for Venini Murano ca. 1925
By Vittorio Zecchin, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Vetro Soffiato Glass Dish by Vittorio Zecchin for Venini Murano ca. 1925 A very large 'vetro soffiato' glass dish in amethyst transparent glass, designed by Vittorio Zecchin in 1925 and manufactured by Venini, Murano Venice. Acid stamped signature 'venini murano ITALIA' on the base. Venini model number 1306. The dish has been manufactured in different sizes, this is the second largest version which is very rare. One of the early 20th century designs of Zecchin for Cappellin and Venini which motivated the muranese glass companies to set out for new shores. Good condition with some surface scratches. Vittorio Zecchin (1878 - 1947) was a native Muranese and son of a glasswork technician. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Together with the painter Teodoro Wolf Ferrari...
Art Glass
Livio Seguso Abstract Murano Glass Sculpture, Signed, Italy, 1980s
Located in CABA, AR
A striking abstract sculpture by renowned Murano artist Livio Seguso, executed in hand-blown sommerso glass and signed by the artist. Characterized by its elegant looping form, the s...
Glass
Vintage Italian Handmade Murano Glass Vase Centerpiece, circa 1980
Located in Vilnius, LT
Large size Mid-Century Italian handmade murano glass vase centerpiece in emerald green and clear colour with gold/silver dust inside. The foot sphere part in clear glass with inlaid ...
Murano Glass
$4,091
H 13.98 in W 3.94 in D 5.71 in
Italian Murano Glass Parrot Sculpture, Gold Leaf, 1980s — Alberto Donà
By Alberto Donà
Located in Villaverla, IT
Italian Murano glass parrot sculpture crafted during the nineteen eighties showcases expressive Venetian figurative art glass design. Handcrafted in Italy, this dynamic sculpture dep...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$3,927Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.34 in Dm 14.17 in
Italian Murano Glass Centerpiece Bowl, Green and Frosted, Seguso, 1980s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Villaverla, IT
Italian Murano glass centerpiece bowl crafted during the nineteen eighties demonstrates refined postmodern Venetian art glass design. Handcrafted in Italy, this sculptural tapered ur...
Bronze
$1,589Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.03 in W 7.49 in D 3.94 in
Murano Glass Elephant Sculpture, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 1980
Located in Roma, Lazio
Beautiful Murano glass sculpture representing an elephant, with a rigorous trunk facing upwards. The Murano glass sculpture has the same workmanship as a "sommerso". The "submerged"...
Murano Glass
Missoni Large Arte Vetro Murano Polychromatic Marble Italian Vase, 1980
By Arte Verto, Ottavio Missoni
Located in Roma, IT
Large modern Murano black and colored glass with polychromatic marble vase. It has made by Arte Vetro Murano for Missoni Limited edition of 300 copies. Th...
Glass