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, four large wall lamps in murano glass and metal. Italy 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Catania, CT
Rare set of four exclusive sconces made from thick murano glass and metal. Engraved signature on the glass by Missoni. No chips or cracks. Italy 1980s. Full working with EU standard,...
Metal
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
Ottavio Missoni Eos Hand-Blown Murano Glass Vase Table Lamp
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Celebrated for its fearless use of color and avant-garde Italian design, Missoni brings its iconic aesthetic to this exceptional hand-blown Murano glass vase lamp. Crafted in the 199...
Murano Glass
Large Brass and Murano Glass Wall Lamps, 1980s, Italy
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Pair of brass and Murano glass wall lamps, Italy, 1980s. These striking vintage sconces feature tall cylindrical glass elements with a warm amber tone and a finely textured Murano su...
Murano Glass
$4,084 / set
H 12.6 in W 11.03 in D 6.3 in
Italian Large Pair of Murano Glass Wall Sconces by Barbini Alfredo, 1980s
By Alfredo Barbini, Barbini
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Marvelous and unique Pair of Italian Colorful Murano glass Wall Sconces from 1980s. These fixtures were designed and munufactured during the 1980s in Italy by Alfredo Barbini. “Barb...
Metal
Murano Italian Table Lamps, Hand Blown Glass, Acrylic Base, 1960s
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of Murano Italian thick and solid (not hollow) hand blown clear and blue colored table lamps mounted on acrylic bases. Newly wired with new 3 ways sockets and cords. The glass i...
Glass, Acrylic
Pair of Murano Glass Wall Lamps, Italy, 1980s
Located in Brussel, BE
Soft lighted sconces made of a beautiful ‘’encamiciato’’ opaline Murano glass lampshade on a polished brass base. Made in Venice by Murano masters during the 1980s. - Origin: Italy D...
Brass
Pair of Modernist Hand Blown Murano Clear Glass Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
This dramatic pair of table lamps were realized in Murano, Italy the islands off the coast of Venice that have been renowned for centuries for their superlative glass production. The...
Gold
Murano Glass Green Avventurina Table Lamps, Hand-Blown, Italy, New
Located in Austin, TX
Green avventurina Murano glass lamps with four hand-blown segments of glass and a fluted base. The avventurina process involves fusing 23 carat gold flecks into the glass. This pair ...
Murano Glass
Wall lighting Murano glass large XXL, Italy 1980
By AVMazzega
Located in La xara, VC
Murano Glass wall lighting or Flush Mount , Italy, Late 1980s These are Murano glass ceiling or wall lights with a gilt gold incrustation metal bracket, from the production of Mura...
Gold Leaf
Large Hand Blown Murano Glass Table Lamp in Barovier Style
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Large, elegant, Mid-century era hand-blown semi-clear Murano glass table lamp with gold flecks throughout the glass work in the style of Barovier and Toso. This lamp features a large...
Brass
Barovier & Toso Hand Blown Murano Glass Table Lamp with Avventurina, 1950s
By Barovier&Toso
Located in New York, NY
Murano art glass table lamp with Avventurina on brass base by Barovier & Toso. Italy, 1950's. The body of the glass is 12"H. The lamps is 24"H overall. Lampshade not included.
Brass
Hand Blown Aqua Murano Pulegoso Glass Table Lamps, Modern Design
Located in Austin, TX
Aqua Murano “pulegoso” glass lamps shimmering pair of hand blown lamps. Pulegoso: This technique is characterized by innumerable bubbles (“pule...
Murano Glass
$2,475 / set
H 16.93 in W 3.94 in D 8.27 in
1980s Modern Murano Glass and Metal Italian Big Wall Sconces by Leucos
By Leucos Design Lab, Renato Toso, Leucos
Located in Aci Castello, IT
These sleek and elegant 1980s modern wall sconces by Leucos showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of Murano glass by Renato Toso. The cylindrical forms are crafted from glossy white M...
Metal
$563Sale Price / set|60% Off
H 9.45 in W 13.78 in D 4.73 in
Postmodern Italian Murano Glass Wall Sconces, 1980s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Postmodern and beautiful set of two Murano glass Wall Sconces. These fixtures are made in Italy. Each Wall Sconce is equipped with one light halongen bulb. A professional electricia...
Metal
Sold
H 8.27 in W 1.19 in D 7.88 in
Pair of Murano glass wall sconces by Ottavio Missoni for Zonca, 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Pair of green and blue murano glass wall sconces by Ottavio Missoni for Zonca, 1980s. The dark gray metal frame designed by Ottavio Missoni, and made by "ARTE VETRO MURANO" for Zonca...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 23.23 in W 11.42 in D 11.42 in
Mid-Century Modern Lamp Stripe Murano Glass Glass by Missoni, Italy, 1970s
By Missoni, Ottavio Missoni
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern Space Age table or bedside lamp in stripe murano glass by the italian design manufacture Missoni founded by Ottavio Missoni . Famous manufacture like Venini, La Mu...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 27.56 in W 15.75 in D 9.45 in
Ottavio Missoni Italian Murano Glass "Mercurio" Table Lamp for Arte Vetro, 1980
By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM), Ottavio Missoni
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Murano glass lamp designed by Ottavio Missoni and produced by Arte Vetro Murano in the 1980s. The structure is in silver and black metal. " If you like it please make your offer and...
Murano Glass