Demonstrative of a unique marriage between artistry and technical excellence, Vistosi lighting fixtures were born from a rich Italian glassmaking tradition. The prolific glass manufacturer came to prominence after World War II for its modernist lighting designs, and today Vistosi is known for opulent chandeliers, lamps and sconces.
The history of Vistosi reaches as far back as 1640, when the Gazzabin family of Murano opened a furnace for producing Murano glass art. "Vistoso," which was originally a nickname, became part of the family's surname and eventually the name “Vistosi” was used to refer to the family’s glass creations.
Vistosi would be recognized by the glassmakers’ guild in Murano during the late 18th century — with Gio-Batta Vistosi becoming head of the guild — but Napoleon dissolved the Venetian state and closed the region’s glass factories by 1807. The modern iteration of the Vistosi company was founded in Murano in 1945 by Guglielmo Vistosi, a Gazzabin family heir.
During the 1950s, Vistosi's grandchildren, Gino and Luciano Vistosi, began specializing in lighting. In the 1960s and ‘70s, the company worked with renowned Italian furniture designers like Adalberto Dal Lago, Ettore Sottsass and Gae Aulenti. One of Vistosi's most famous collaborations was with Italian architect and designer Angelo Mangiarotti. In 1967, Mangiarotti designed a modular crystal-hook lighting system called Giogali that has enjoyed popularity and acclaim to this day.
In 1989, Vistosi was taken over by businessman Giancarlo Moretti, who had an extensive background in the lighting industry. Moretti's son, Matteo Moretti, reinvigorated the business with a series of new design collaborations in 1993. Some of the most notable partnerships included Chiaramonte and Marin, Mauro Olivieri and Michele De Lucchi.
Vistosi has participated in every Euroluce showcase since the lighting exhibition began in 1976. In 2005, the company won the ADI Design Index award for Mangiarotti's Giogali system. In 2007, Vistosi won the Eurispes award and participated in a Compasso d'Oro competition.
Today, Vistosi is still a leader in the lighting industry, shifting to LED and creating new types of lead-free crystal glass for its stunning range of lighting fixtures.
Find a collection of vintage Vistosi lighting and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Vistosi Italian Mid-Century Modern Cased Murano Glass Bullseye Paperweight
By Vistosi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Murano glass paperweight. By Vistosi. In the form of a black (or deep amethsyt) ameoba shape with a green & white bullseye pattern. Simply a great Italian glass paper...
Glass, Art Glass
Alessandro Pianon Murano Glass Candleholder for Vistosi, Italy, 1950s
By Vistosi, Alessandro Pianon
Located in Milan, IT
Alessandro Pianon Murano glass candleholder for Vistosi, Italy, 1950s. Alessandro Pianon light brown Murano glass candleholder. Reference Do...
Murano Glass
$488Sale Price|24% Off
H 2.5 in Dm 3 in
Fratelli Toso Murano Green White Italian Art Glass Crown Paperweight
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown green and white twisting ribbons Italian art glass paperweight. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company. This paperweights are often ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
$431Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.15 in Dm 3.15 in
Vintage 1960s Murano Glass 'Tutti Frutti' Paperweight by AVEM
By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1960s. This paperweight is made in Murano glass. It is a "Tutti frutti" model. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be con...
Murano Glass
Murano Sommerso Glass Horse Head Bust Signed Italian
Located in North Miami, FL
This Italian Murano Sommerso glass horse head is signed Bortaro. It is lovely and in then colors of black, gray and clear. The mane of hair in hand b...
Blown Glass
Collection of Six Glass Multicolored Paperweights
Located in London, GB
These glass paperweights are wonderful decorative pieces which will make perfect desk accessories or collectables. The paperweights are all slightly different in their shape and ...
Glass, Art Glass
$228
H 3.15 in Dm 2.5 in
Caithness Glass Paperweight Eagle soaring over Snowy Mountain, Scotland C 1980s
By Caithness Scotland
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful glass paperweight by Caithness Glass, Scotland, showing a soaring Eagle flying over a snowy mountain top, made after 1970 in the last quarter of the 20th Century....
Blown Glass
Large Murano Glass Paperweight with Internal Bubbles and Swirls
Located in Rochester, NY
Vintage colorful Italian glass paperweight.
Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
$205Sale Price|46% Off
H 3.5 in Dm 2.75 in
Caithness Glass Ascension Paperweight by Alastair Macintosh Scotland, Ca 1980
By Caithness Scotland
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful Caithness glass paperweight named "Ascension", designed by Alastair Macintosh and dating to the last quarter of the 20th century. The paperweight has a cone, egg shaped form, having colours including blue swirl with orange net to the centre and medium bubble and smaller controlled bubbles, making a very distinctive design. The Caithness Glass Company began making paperweights circa 1962 Paul Ysart,Colin Terriss,Alistair Macintosh,Margot Thomson Inns Burn where some of Caithness makers designers of Caithness glass paperweights. The makers mark is etched to the base with CAITHNESS ASCENSION SCOTLAND and a scratched edition number alongside as per the images. This paperweight weighs about 500 gram. Caithness glass The company was founded in 1961 by Robin Sinclair and initially only made bowls, vases and drinking glasses. After Paul Ysart joined the company a year later, that paved the weigh for Paperweight production, with regular factory production starting in the late 1960s. In 1974 the first millefiori and lampwork paperweights...
Blown Glass
Vintage Murano Glass Gold Pear Paperweight, Italian Art Glass, 1970s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Charming gold speckled Murano glass pear paperweight. Striking design of controlled bubbles throughout.
Glass, Art Glass
$1,103Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.93 in W 5.91 in D 3.55 in
Vincenzo Nason Murano Art Glass Green Blue Bird Paperweight Figurine
By Vincenzo Nason & Cie
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Murano glass bird sculpture by Vincenzo Nason, Italy, 1970s. Green, blue and clear glass with beautiful hues when light go...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Handblown Wild Flower Art Glass Paperweight Attributed to Fratelli Toso
By Fratelli Toso
Located in New York, NY
Rare elegant Murano handblown wild flower art glass paperweight. Attributed to the Fratelli Toso company. The piece has three large white flowers insi...
Glass
Black Art Glass Sphere Paperweight Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Modern/Postmodern black and neutral flesh-tone art glass sphere decorative object or paperweight with an organic modern design, circa 1970s. This handmade art glass color...
Blown Glass, Art Glass
Sold
H 7 in W 7 in D 7 in
Midcentury Set of Five Pulcini 'Pulcino' Glass Birds, Alessandro Pianon, Vistosi
By Vistosi, Alessandro Pianon
Located in Englewood, NJ
An iconic and complete set of five rare Italian Mid-Century Modern art glass "Pulcino" birds designed by, Alessandro Pianon for Vetreria Vistosi, circa 1962. The birds each are diffe...
Copper
Sold
H 3 in W 4.25 in D 4 in
Vistosi Murano Blue White Orange Black Bullseye Italian Art Glass Paperweight
By Vistosi
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Large Murano handblown white, blue, green, orange and black Italian art glass bullseye paperweight. Documented to the Vistosi Company. The piece is made to look like a cut geode rock...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass
Sold
H 2.25 in W 4 in D 2.75 in
Vistosi Murano White Orange Black Bullseye Italian Art Glass Paperweight
By Vistosi
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Rare Murano hand blown white, orange and black Italian art glass bullseye paperweight. Documented to the Vistosi company. The piece is made to look like a cut geode rock...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Paper Weight by Murano, 1960
By Vistosi
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Paper weight by Murano with a Murano stamp stick on the bottom.
Murano Glass