A.V. Mazzega / Mazzega 1946 (Murano, founded 1946)

– Italian manufacturer of Murano-glass lighting

A.V. Mazzega / Mazzega

The company was historically known as "A.V. Mazzega" – the initials stand for "Angelo Vittorio Mazzega," the founder and namesake of the firm ("Azienda Vetraria Muranese"). Since the third generation took over in 2000, the company has been trading internationally under the brand name "Mazzega 1946." This profile refers to the same manufacturer.

Company and Origins

A.V. Mazzega is a family-run Italian glass and lighting manufacturer with its roots on the island of Murano, the world's leading centre of Venetian glass art since the 13th century. Production continues on Murano, while the company's headquarters, showroom and administration have for some years been located on the Italian mainland at Casale sul Sile (Province of Treviso, Via Nuova Trevigiana 127/B), from where international sales are organised. The programme comprises contemporary designer lamps, classic Venetian chandeliers and re-editions of the company's own historical icons.
The company positions itself as a bridge between the centuries-old craft tradition of the Murano glass masters and the international design world: all glass components are still mouth-blown and worked on Murano using traditional techniques – including "vetro in piastra" (mouth-blown glass plates), layered glass, and mouth-blown crystal and coloured glasses – while product development and collaborations with international designers position the brand in the premium contract and residential lighting market.

History and Generations (1946 to today)

Angelo Vittorio Mazzega – Foundation in 1946

The "Azienda Vetraria Muranese" ("A.V. Mazzega" for short, using the founder's initials) was established in 1946, immediately after the Second World War, on the island of Murano by Angelo Vittorio Mazzega. In its first phase, the house focused on traditional Murano glassmaking, in particular classic Venetian chandeliers and decorative glassware executed in the techniques handed down on the island.

Lidia and Gianni Bruno Mazzega – Turn towards modern lighting(from the 1960s)

In the 1960s the founder's children Lidia and Gianni Bruno Mazzega took over operational management. They consistently opened the company up to contemporary lighting design and positioned A.V. Mazzega as one of the first Murano workshops to combine traditional glass art with the formal vocabulary of Italian post-war design. Gianni Bruno Mazzega in particular recognised the potential of the young Murano glass artist Carlo Nason, whom he engaged from the mid-1960s onwards with far-reaching creative freedom. It was in this period that A.V. Mazzega gained international attention; the first official company catalogue appeared in 1970.

International visibility – 1970s and 1980s

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the company specialised in high-end glass lighting for a demanding niche market. The models developed with Carlo Nason – including the iconic "Cascata" chandelier series with its hanging, individually mouth-blown glass plates as well as numerous table, floor and ceiling lamps in layered glass – are today regarded as classic examples of Italian Space Age and Mid-Century design and are highly collectible on the international vintage market.

1990s – Two collection lines

In the 1990s the house restructured its offer into two parallel collection lines: a contemporary design line ("moderni") for the urban residential and project market, and a classic line ("veneziani") comprising Venetian chandeliers in traditional and historicist forms. Both lines are hand-crafted on Murano and are continuously enlarged with new pieces by international designers.
Andrea Mazzega – Presidency from 2000 and rebranding as "Mazzega 1946"
In 2000, Andrea Mazzega, grandson of the founder, took over as president. Under his leadership the brand has been repositioned internationally and now operates as "Mazzega 1946." The more recent phase is characterised by the expansion of the tailor-made contract business for hotels, yachts and prestige interior projects, ongoing collaborations with internationally recognised designers and a "Re-Edition" line reissuing key Nason classics from the 1960s and 1970s from original archive documents.

Craft and Manufacturing

Manufacturing follows the tradition of Murano glass art: all glass bodies are mouth-blown, shaped, ground and assembled by hand on Murano. The house masters a broad technical repertoire, including layered glass ("vetro sommerso"), the "vetro in piastra" technique (mouth-blown glass plates arranged geometrically) that shaped its own history, mouth-blown coloured, crystal and opal glasses, and the classic Venetian chandelier vocabulary (rosettes, blossoms, pendants). Metal frames are executed using traditional techniques (chrome plating, gilding, bronze and brass patination).
This depth of in-house craftsmanship supports three parallel fields of activity: (1) production of the company's own collections in the "moderni," "veneziani" and "re-edition" lines, (2) tailor-made lighting ("fine bespoke lighting") for architects, interior designers and the luxury hospitality, cruise-ship and yacht markets, and (3) re-editions of historical models from the company's own archive.

Designers and Collaborations

A defining feature of A.V. Mazzega / Mazzega 1946 is its consistent collaboration with external designers from different generations and design cultures. The following collaborations are documented, among others:
·       Carlo Nason (b. 1935, Murano) – the house's defining designer from the mid-1960s to the 1980s; developed the model families that shaped the company in layered and plate glass, including the "Cascata" series and the "LT216" table lamp. Nason belongs to one of the oldest Murano glassmaking families and has also designed for Kalmar, I TRE, Murano Due and other manufacturers. His early works were exhibited at the Corning Museum of Glass (New York) only a few years after the start of his career.
·       Michele De Lucchi (b. 1951) – Italian architect and designer, co-founder of the Memphis movement, internationally recognised for designs for Olivetti, Artemide and others; represented at Mazzega 1946 with lighting objects.
·       Christophe Pillet (b. 1959, France) – Paris-based industrial and interior designer, named "Créateur de l'Année" by the Salon du Meuble Paris.
·       Paolo Piva (1950–2017, Italy) – architect and furniture designer known for his work for B&B Italia and Wittmann; represented at Mazzega 1946 with lighting collections.
·       Sam Baron (b. 1976, France) – designer and long-time head of the Fabrica Design Studio (Benetton) in Treviso.
·       Giovanni Barbato – Italian designer focused on contemporary glass objects for Mazzega 1946.
·       Antonio Ventimiglia – Italian designer and long-standing collaborator of the manufacturer.
·       Gasmi Chafik – designer of sculptural glass lamps for Mazzega 1946.
·       Oriano Favaretto – Italian designer, long-standing collaborator of the manufacturer.
·       Riccardo Giovanetti – Italian designer and collaborator.
Beyond these documented names, older sources refer to earlier collaborations of A.V. Mazzega with Italian masters such as Gio Ponti and Fulvio Bianconi as well as with Murano glass artists close to the "Fucina degli Angeli" circle; these attributions are common in the international collector and dealer context but are not consistently supported by primary catalogues.
Iconic and documented models
·       "Cascata" – chandelier series by Carlo Nason (1960s / 1970s) featuring an inverted pyramid of individually mouth-blown, hanging glass plates on a chrome-plated support structure; considered one of the most style-defining works of the house.
·       "LT216" – table lamp by Carlo Nason for A.V. Mazzega (early 1970s) in mouth-blown clear glass with structured glass bodies; one of the most frequently documented Mazzega models in the vintage trade.
·       "Ghiaccio" (Ice) – ceiling lamps and chandeliers with mouth-blown glass elements evoking blocks of ice, from the late 1960s onwards.
·       "Sixty" (Ceiling / Suspension) – contemporary collection of mouth-blown glass domes in several sizes, part of the current range.
·       "Magnesio" – contemporary chandelier from the current "Modern" line.
·       "Profiles Collection" – current line of reduced, architecturally inspired luminaires.
·       "Re-Edition" – ongoing series reissuing historical Mazzega models from original archive documents.

Reference projects and clients

As a specialist manufacturer of Murano glass lighting, Mazzega 1946 works in particular for the international contract market (luxury hotels, cruise ships, yachts, restaurants, prestige interiors) as well as for private clients and interior architecture projects. Numerous tailor-made luminaires for hotels and private villas are documented on the company's project page, with individual reference projects presented with images. In addition, Mazzega 1946 is regularly present at the major international design and lighting fairs (including Salone del Mobile Milano and Euroluce) and at contract-focused trade shows (BDNY, Boot Düsseldorf).

Location and Company Structure

·       Headquarters, showroom and administration: Via Nuova Trevigiana 127/B, 31032 Casale sul Sile (TV), Italy.
·       Historical and still-active production site: Island of Murano, Venice, Italy.
·       Legal form / company name: family-run company operating under the brand "Mazzega 1946" (historically: A.V. Mazzega – Azienda Vetraria Muranese).
·       Management: Andrea Mazzega, grandson of the founder, president since 2000.
Key facts at a glance
·       Name: A.V. Mazzega (Azienda Vetraria Muranese) / brand name since c. 2000: Mazzega 1946.
·       Year founded: 1946.
·       Place of foundation: Island of Murano, Venice, Italy.
·       Founder: Angelo Vittorio Mazzega (namesake of the "A.V." initials).
·       Second generation: Lidia Mazzega and Gianni Bruno Mazzega (from the 1960s; turn towards contemporary lighting).
·       Third generation / current management: Andrea Mazzega, president since 2000.
·       First official company catalogue: 1970.
·       Activity: design, manufacture and bespoke production of residential and contract lighting in Murano glass; re-editions of historical models.
·       Materials and techniques: mouth-blown Murano glass (clear, coloured, opal, crystal); "vetro in piastra," layered glass ("vetro sommerso"); chrome-plated, gilded, patinated and lacquered metal frames.
·       Product lines: "Moderni" (contemporary design), "Veneziani" (classic Venetian chandeliers), "Re-Edition" (historical models).
·       Key designers (selection): Carlo Nason, Michele De Lucchi, Christophe Pillet, Paolo Piva, Sam Baron, Giovanni Barbato, Antonio Ventimiglia, Gasmi Chafik, Oriano Favaretto, Riccardo Giovanetti.
·       Iconic / documented models: "Cascata," "LT216," "Ghiaccio," "Sixty" (Ceiling / Suspension), "Magnesio," "Profiles Collection," ongoing "Re-Edition" series.
·       Market: international contract market (hospitality, cruise, yachts, restaurants), interior architecture and premium residential.
Significance
A.V. Mazzega / Mazzega 1946 is one of the defining names of Murano's post-war lighting production. Its particular role lies in having opened the traditional canon of Venetian glass art to Italian post-war design at an early stage – especially through its long-standing collaboration with Carlo Nason, whose designs for A.V. Mazzega are still traded as key works of Italian Space Age and Mid-Century design. The continuation of this tradition under the brand "Mazzega 1946," with a clearly structured programme of contemporary collections, classic Venetian chandeliers and authorised re-editions, and with a substantial contract business, makes the house one of the currently most relevant Murano manufacturers for premium lighting on the international market.

References

Italian- and English-language primary sources (company website and manufacturer directories)
·       Mazzega 1946 – home page (EN): https://mazzega1946.it/en/
·       Mazzega 1946 – "Company" (company history, EN): https://mazzega1946.it/en/company/
·       Mazzega 1946 – "Designers" (overview of collaborations, EN): https://mazzega1946.it/en/designers/
·       Mazzega 1946 – "Products" (overview Modern / Venetians / Re-Edition, EN): https://mazzega1946.it/en/products/
·       Mazzega 1946 – "Projects" (contract and installation references, EN): https://mazzega1946.it/en/projects/
·       Mazzega 1946 – "Contacts" (headquarters Casale sul Sile, EN): https://mazzega1946.it/en/contacts/
·       Architonic – manufacturer profile "A.V. Mazzega" (short history, collections): https://www.architonic.com/en/microsite/a-v-mazzega/3101068
·       Volza – company profile "Mazzega, Casale sul Sile, Italy": https://www.volza.com/company-profile/mazzega-10628101/
English-language trade and portal sources
·       Lightology – manufacturer page "A.V. Mazzega / Mazzega 1946": https://www.lightology.com/index.php?module=vend&vend_id=28&bn=Mazzega1946
·       Lumens – brand page "Mazzega 1946 Lighting": https://www.lumens.com/mazzega-1946/
·       Lumens – product page "Magnesio Chandelier by Mazzega 1946": https://www.lumens.com/magnesio-chandelier-by-mazzega-1946-AVMP414446.html
·       Judith Norman – brand page "Mazzega 1946": https://judithnorman.com/mazzega-1946/
·       Rewire – brand page "Mazzega 1946" (company history, designers): https://rewirela.com/brand/mazzega/
·       Decofetch – brand page "Mazzega 1946 | Murano Glass Lighting": https://www.decofetch.com/brand/mazzega-1946
·       Studio Verticale – brand page "Mazzega 1946": https://shop.studioverticale.com/collections/mazzega-1946
·       Studio Verticale – "Mazzega 1946 Profiles Collection": https://shop.studioverticale.com/collections/mazzega-1946-profiles-collection
·       Modus10 – brand page "Mazzega 1946": https://modus10.com/mazzega1946/
·       Incollect – artist page "A.V. Mazzega": https://www.incollect.com/artists/a-v-mazzega
·       Incollect – "Carlo Nason: Renowned Italian Glass Designer & Mazzega Lamps and Chandeliers": https://www.incollect.com/artists/carlo-nason-mazzega-lamps-chandeliers
·       Vintageinfo – "AV Mazzega Ghiaccio Ceiling Lamp": https://vintageinfo.be/av-mazzega-ghiaccio-ceiling-lamp/
·       Vintageinfo – "Carlo Nason AV Mazzega LT216 Table Lamp": https://vintageinfo.be/carlo-nason-av-mazzega-lt216-table-lamp/
·       Vintageinfo – "AV Mazzega Murano Glass Globe Pendant Lamp": https://vintageinfo.be/av-mazzega-murano-glass-globe-pendant-lamp/
·       Vintageinfo – "AV Mazzega Blue & White Glass Chandelier": https://vintageinfo.be/av-mazzega-blue-white-glass-chandelier/
·       High Style Deco – "MAZZEGA" (company overview and model selection): https://www.highstyledeco.com/mazzega
·       High Style Deco – "Mid-Century Hand-Blown Bronze & Clear Murano Glass by Carlo Nason for Mazzega": https://www.highstyledeco.com/midcentury-chandeliers/mid-century-hand-blown-bronze-clear-murano-glass-by-carlo-nason-for-mazzega
·       Venfield NYC – artist page "Mazzega": https://www.venfieldnyc.com/shop/artists/mazzega
·       AP Mid-Century Modern – "20th Century Italian Pair of Modern Vintage Murano Glass Wall Sconces by Mazzega": https://apmidcenturymodern.com/product/20th-century-italian-pair-of-modern-vintage-murano-glass-wall-sconces-by-mazzega/
·       1stDibs – creator page "Angelo Vittorio Mazzega": https://www.1stdibs.com/creators/angelo-vittorio-mazzega
·       1stDibs – creator page "Carlo Nason": https://www.1stdibs.com/creators/carlo-nason/
·       Vintage Design Lighting – "A.V. Mazzega – The story": https://www.vintagedesignlighting.com/av-mazzega-the-story.html
·       AtKris Studio – "Carlo Nason" (biography): https://www.atkris.com/page/carlo-nason
Italian-language secondary and trade sources
·       Modaedesign – "AV Mazzega Murano catalogo prezzi": https://www.modaedesign.com/collections/avmazzega
·       NowArc – "Lampadario a cascata in vetro di Murano effetto ghiaccio ... di Mazzega Murano": https://www.nowarc.com/lampadario-a-cascata-in-vetro-di-murano-effetto-ghiaccio-della-meta-del-secolo-scorso-di-mazzega-murano/
·       NowArc – "Lampadario a cascata moderno in vetro di Murano bianco degli anni '70 di Mazzega": https://www.nowarc.com/lampadario-a-cascata-moderno-in-vetro-di-murano-bianco-degli-anni-70-di-mazzega/
·       Vint It Up – "Lampadario Mazzega a cascata in vetro di murano, anni '70": https://vintitup.it/product/lampadario-mazzega-a-cascata-in-vetro-di-murano-anni-70/
·       1stDibs Italia – brand page "AV Mazzega": https://www.1stdibs.com/it/buy/av-mazzega/
·       CristalFlint – "AV Mazzega": https://www.cristalflint.com/marchi/av-mazzega/
·       Tripadvisor – location "Mazzega srl, Murano" (visibility of the Murano production site): https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g681249-d2663599-Reviews-Mazzega_srl-Murano_Veneto.html
·       MuranoNet – contextual article on post-war Murano manufacturers (A.Ve.M. / context of A.V. Mazzega): https://www.muranonet.com/en-us/blogs/unfold-venice/a-v-e-m-avem-murano-glass-vetro-fornace
French- and German-language sources
·       1stDibs (German edition) – "Großer Murano-Kronleuchter von AV Mazzega Italien 1970er Jahre": https://www.1stdibs.com/de/m%C3%B6bel/leuchten/kronleuchter-und-h%C3%A4ngelampen/gro%C3%9Fer-murano-kronleuchter-von-av-mazzega-italien-1970er-jahre/id-f_35011872
·       Etsy (multilingual, including German- and English-language product descriptions) – "Vintage Murano Pendant Lamp by AV Mazzega, Italy 1950s": https://www.etsy.com/listing/4355647753/vintage-murano-pendant-lamp-by-av
·       Note: No stand-alone German or French monograph on A.V. Mazzega / Mazzega 1946 is currently known; German- and French-language information consists essentially of trade and auction descriptions and translations of the Italian- and English-language primary sources.
Other languages (found and not-found notes)
·       Dutch (NL): Individual product descriptions of vintage Mazzega lamps on Whoppah, Vintageinfo and comparable platforms; no stand-alone Dutch-language articles or monographs on A.V. Mazzega were found.
·       Spanish (ES) / Portuguese (PT): Targeted searches for "AV Mazzega" and "Mazzega Murano lámpara / candeeiro" produced no stand-alone Spanish- or Portuguese-language trade or museum sources with substantive content.
·       Japanese (JA): No stand-alone Japanese-language sources on A.V. Mazzega / Mazzega 1946 were found; internationally, the company communicates primarily via Italian- and English-language channels.

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