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
$4,593Sale Price|23% Off
Ottavio Missoni, Chandelier with Incalmo and Calcedonia Murano Glass, 1980s
By Missoni Home, Ottavio Missoni
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This intriguing and lovely chandelier that represents the quintessential of the 1980s. That was the roaring decade of fashion houses, in particular Italians, and the Expansion beyon...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Milk Glass, Murano Glass
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
Murano Glass Purple Battuto Table Lamps, Hand-Blown Modern Design
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Murano glass lamps made of hand-blown glass in a purple tone. They are crafted in the battuto technique, which creates a hammered appearance to the glass. They have been newl...
Murano Glass
Large Murano Glass Chandelier Italy 1980s
By Mazzega
Located in Dallas, TX
Mid-Century Modern Murano glass chandelier attributed to Mazzega, Italy, 1980s. Large Vintage translucent and textured Murano glass chandelier, with gold-plated frame, canopy and cha...
Gold Plate
$4,381
H 15.75 in W 20.87 in D 20.87 in
Stunning 1980s Murano Glass Chandelier with Rainbow-Reflecting Discs and Delicat
Located in Palermo, PA
1980s Murano glass chandelier featuring three glass discs and delicate Murano glass flowers. The glass discs have an amazing oil finish, reflecting the colors of the rainbow. Height ...
Metal
Vistosi Orange Modernist Murano Glass Chandelier, 1980s
By Gino Vistosi
Located in Austin, TX
Chandelier from the iconic Vistosi studio on the island of Murano outside of Venice, Italy. This fixture has a brass structure with exaggerated curved canopy. From the brass structur...
Murano Glass
Murano Glass Flush Mount Chandelier 1980s
By Venini
Located in Dallas, TX
Mid-Century Modern Murano glass tear drop flush mount chandelier, Italy 1980s. In the manner of Venini. The vintage flush mount is made of a brass & ivory round ceiling plate, an...
Brass
Luxurious Red and Gold Murano Glass Chandelier 1980s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Rome, IT
Sumptuous Murano chandelier with 24 arms and a multitude of flowers in glass paste and gold inclusion. Available also a pair and 4 pair of sconces.
Murano Glass
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
Rich Green Murano Glass Chandelier, circa 1980s
Located in Villaverla, IT
This captivating Murano glass chandelier, a testament to exquisite Italian craftsmanship, features a vibrant emerald green hue that commands attention. Its elegant design, characteri...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Pair of Hand Blown Murano Glass Table Lamps
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Pair of hand blown Murano glass table lamps, each with a stacked baluster form of four graduated ribbed and textured globes with gold inclusions throughout, on a circular foot. Fitte...
Murano Glass
Multi-Colored Murano Glass VISTOSI Chandelier, 1980s
By Vistosi
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Large Vistosi glass disk chandelier. Italy, Murano, 1980's. Chandelier with 64 multi-coloured glass disks, hand-made in Murano. White metal frame with ten E27 light sockets. Conditi...
Metal
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
Stunning Large Murano Glass Petals Chandelier Italy, 1980s
By Mazzega
Located in Aachen, NRW
A stunning Murano glass petals chandelier in style of Mazzega, Italy, manufactured in the 1980s. The chandelier is composed of many thick textured glass elements attached to a brass...
Brass
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 Ottavio Missoni, 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 Ottavio Missoni, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
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