Vistosi Cumulus Table Lamp –

Lamps in the movies!

A Vistosi Cumulus table lamp was used as a prop in the comedy film Bedside Dentist from 1971. The original Danish name is Tandlæge på sengekanten.

A Vistosi Cumulus table lamp was used as a prop in the 1975 American political thriller film Three Days of the Condor. A film directed by Sydney Pollack starring Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway.

Peill + Putzler Mushroom Table Lamp

Many thanks to Peter from BGgalleries for the catalogue picture, you can find his website over here.

Vistosi Cumulus Table Lamp

Materials: White opal and clear crystal hand blown Murano glass lampshade. Opaque on top, terminating clear at the base. Bakelite E27 socket.

Height: 36 cm / 14.17”

Width: ∅ 34 cm / 13.38”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 100 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb with an E27 screw base can be used. For this type of table lamp preferable an opaque/white light bulb.

Period: 1960s, 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Enrico Capuzzo.

Manufacturer: Vistosi, Murano, Italy.

Other Versions: The Vistosi Cumulus table lamp exists in 1 version. No other versions exists. It is model L-249.

This table lamp is often presented as a lamp designed by Luciano or Gino Vistosi, but it is not, as you can see in the catalogue picture.

In the USA this lamp was sold by Koch & Lowy.

The German company Peill + Putzler made an almost identical lamp with the same dimensions, as you can see below with a label. It often leads to confusions.

Enrico Capuzzo

Enrico Capuzzo designed several lamps and items for the Vistosi company. His most well known lamp is the Sculpture table lamp, most of the time named Sebenica (model T-253), the reason is unclear. You can find it over here, on Vintageinfo. Other lamps by is hands are, among others, the Bianca table lamp (model L-252), the Futura table lamp (model L-248) and the Venetian table lamp (model L-239). All designed around 1965.

Enrico Capuzzo also designed glass objects and lamps for the other famous Murano company Venini, together with Paolo Venini.

Capuzzo is/was an architect and he designed many buildings such as the Palasport Giobatta Gianquinto (Palasport Arsenale) in Venice, Italy in 1977.

Vistosi

Vistosi was created by Guglielmo Vistosi in Murano in 1945 focusing on lighting. After his premature death his sons Gino and Luciano, joined their uncle Oreste in the founding of the Vistosi company.

In 1956 Alessandro Pianon, a Venetian Architect, joined the company. Together with second generation Luciano and Gino Vistosi they gave a swing to the company focusing on innovation and design.

The company has employed some very relevant designers such as Angelo Mangiarotti, Gae Aulenti. Peter Pelzel, Ettore Sottsass Jr., Adalberto Dal Lago. Vico Magistretti, Enrico Tronconi and so on.

In 1989 Giancarlo Moretti, a businessman from Murano with a long experience in the glass sector with Vetrofond and Punto Luce, acquires the prestigious brand, giving birth to Vetreria Vistosi. In the 1990s the factory closed for a couple of years. It was reopened by Matteo Moretti, Giancarlo’s son, who relaunched the Vistosi brand. During the same period Vistosi acquired the brands Alox, G2 and Triade. Today, the company still produces the most beautiful lamps, some of them old classics.

The sole survivor of the original founders, Luciano, born 24 February 1930, dedicated himself to research and glass sculpture until his death (in Venice) on 14 Mai 2010.