1950s Vistosi Bedside Table Lamp
Materials: Candlestick style table lamp. Round base made of orange hand blown crystal Murano glass. Round brass bottom. Brass crown style ring. Some brass parts. Conical frosted white opal glass lampshade. Bakelite E14 socket.
Height: 34 cm / 13.38”
Width: ∅ 13 cm / 5.11”
Electricity: 1 bulb E14, 1 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, but a white or frosted one gives the most beautiful result.
Period: 1950s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer: To be appraised.
Manufacturer: Vistosi, Murano, Italy.
Other versions: This 1950s Vistosi bedside table lamp exists in all probability in other colours and sizes. Very rare table lamp. An oil lamp version in this style can be found here on Vintageinfo.
Vistosi
Vistosi was founded 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 1990’s 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.
VLM Components
Almost all the electric parts were made in the 1950’s by the VLM Components company from Buccinasco, near Milan in Italy. Today VLM Components is owned by Relco. It is one of the biggest suppliers of switches, cords and plugs in Europe. VLM Components became famous for the switches they produce that were designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1968. 1 lamp has a VLM switch, the other a Vimar switch, also an Italian company located in Marostica, some 100 km (60 miles) from Venice. More info can be found here.
Links (external links open in a new window)
More info about the history of the Vistosi company can be found on their website: www.vistosi.com/company/history
Luciano Vistosi in the Murano glass Museum
Biography of Luciano Vistosi on the Murano Glass Museum website
Inexhibit: The sculpture of Vistosi at the Murano Glass Museum