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 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
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
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
Mid-Century Modern Hand-Blown Pink Murano Glass Table Lamps
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of lamps from Murano; Italy made of hand-blown iridescent pink glass. They have been newly wired to fit US standards. Shades are complimentary with purchase. While we make ever...
Murano Glass
Modernist X-Form Lavender Hand Blown Murano Mercury Glass Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Hand blown in Murano, Italy, this stunning pair of mirrored mercury glass table lamps features a sculptural tapered x-form body in a rich lavender hue with nickel fittings that echo ...
Murano Glass
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
$6,600 / set
H 22.375 in W 11.75 in D 5.875 in
Clear Murano Glass Table Lamps, Hand Blown Geometric Design, Italy
Located in Austin, TX
Clear Murano glass geometric lamps featuring hand blown glass block components stacked to form an elegant and dynamic composition. They have been newly wired to fit US standards. Th...
Murano Glass
Vintage Hand-Blown Murano Glass Table Lamp, Italy, circa 1970
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
The characteristic wavy zanfirico effect and layered glass structure create a highly decorative and sculptural object, both illuminated and unlit. The lamp rests on its original rou...
Brass
Italian Pair of Murano Hand-Blown Glass Table Lamps, White Glass
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian pair of hand-blown murano glass table lamps These classic designed Italian table lamps, created by expert glass masters in the Venetian island of Murano, Italy, each lamp ...
Blown Glass
Hand-Blown Murano Glass Pineapple Table Lamps, Mid-Century Modern
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of lamps made of hand-blown glass from Murano, Italy. Each lamp depicts a stylized pineapple – known as an international gesture of hospitality. The glass is a warm and inviting...
Murano Glass
Vintage Murano Pulegoso Table Lamp, Hand Blown Silver Glass, 1980s
Located in London, GB
Vintage silver Pulegoso blown glass 3 spheres table lamp Hand Blown Silver Mirrored glass with bubbles internal texture look ” Pulegoso ” technique. Made in Murano Italy *Sold wit...
Blown 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 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