Carlo Nason – Master of Blown Glass Lighting and Italian Design
Carlo Nason (born 1935 in Murano, Venice) is a renowned Italian designer and glass artist best known for his innovative hand‑blown glass lighting that blends modernist aesthetics with traditional Murano craftsmanship. Born into a historic family of expert glassmakers, Nason trained from an early age in the intricate techniques of glassblowing and quickly developed a personal design language focused on clean, geometric forms and refined light diffusion. Nason’s career took a decisive turn in the 1960s when he moved away from his family’s ornate decorative style to focus on modern glass lighting design, collaborating with the Murano glass manufacturer A. V. Mazzega and other leading Venetian glassworks. This partnership resulted in a series of iconic blown‑glass lamps — including suspended chandeliers, table lamps and floor lights — that are celebrated for their elegant simplicity and sculptural presence. Carlo Nason’s work is characterized by the masterful use of blown glass, often featuring layered textures, softly diffused surfaces, and sophisticated material effects that create stunning interplay between light and form. His lamps combine artisanal Murano glass techniques with a forward‑looking design sensibility, making them highly sought after by collectors and design enthusiasts worldwide. Today, Nason’s glass lighting designs — from vintage 1960s and 1970s chandeliers in Murano blown glass to collectible modern pieces — remain influential in Italian design history, symbolizing the creative fusion of tradition and innovation in blown‑glass lighting design.