Mazzega

Founded in Murano in 1946 by Angelo Vittorio Mazzega, Mazzega 1946, also known as AV Mazzega, is one of the historic names in Italian artistic glass lighting. Rooted in Venice's centuries-old glassmaking tradition, the company transformed traditional hand-blown glass techniques into a contemporary design language, contributing to the development of Italian lighting throughout the second half of the twentieth century.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Mazzega progressively expanded its production of lamps and chandeliers, combining traditional craftsmanship with experimentation in form, colour and the optical properties of glass.

A significant turning point came during the 1960s and 1970s, when the company strengthened its position within Italian design through collaborations with architects and designers who reinterpreted Murano glass in a modern context.

Collaborations with Designers

One of the most influential figures in Mazzega's history is Carlo Nason, a Venetian designer born into a family of Murano glassmakers. Their collaboration, particularly active during the 1960s and 1970s, resulted in numerous lighting designs distinguished by sculptural forms, modular elements and innovative uses of glass.

Among the most representative creations is the Nason 338 lamp, designed in 1967, alongside other historical models subsequently reintroduced by the company, including Nason 220 and Nason 335.

During the 1980s, Mazzega expanded its creative partnerships to include designers such as Michele De Lucchi and Paolo Piva, reinforcing the relationship between traditional craftsmanship and industrial design.

Over the following decades, the company also collaborated with international designers including Christophe Pillet, Sam Baron, Giovanni Barbato, Oriano Favaretto, Gasmi Chafik and Riccardo Giovanetti.

These partnerships contributed to collections ranging from decorative lighting to contemporary fixtures for residential and professional interiors.

Products and Collections

Mazzega's production includes chandeliers, pendant lights, wall sconces, ceiling fixtures, table lamps and floor lamps.

Its historical designs from the 1960s and 1970s are particularly recognisable for their use of hand-blown glass, modular components, opaline diffusers and geometric or organic compositions.

Documented creations include Carlo Nason's Nason 338, Nason 335 and Nason 220, as well as contemporary collections such as Moon by Michele De Lucchi, Piramide by Paolo Piva, Bottle by Sam Baron and Snifter by Christophe Pillet.

In 2017, Mazzega presented a re-edition of the Nason 338 lamp at Euroluce, highlighting the historical significance of its designs and the enduring relationship between Murano craftsmanship and Italian design.

Recognition and Design Heritage

Throughout its history, Mazzega has established an international reputation in decorative lighting and artistic glass production.

Its historical creations appear in the vintage design market, private collections and catalogues of specialist galleries and auction houses.

Although the available historical documentation does not establish specific design awards received directly by the company, its reputation is supported by the quality of its craftsmanship, its collaborations with influential designers and the international circulation of its lighting designs.

Today, Mazzega 1946 continues to celebrate Murano's glassmaking heritage through contemporary collections, re-editions of historical models and bespoke architectural lighting projects.

Vintage Mazzega lamps, particularly those produced during the 1960s and 1970s, remain significant examples of the relationship between Venetian craftsmanship, formal experimentation and twentieth-century Italian design.