Mid 20th Century Modern Murano Tesserine Glass Mosaic Mushroom Table Lamp Attributed to TAO, Italy

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Description

Murano Tesserine Glass Mosaic Mushroom Table Lamp Attributed to TAO, Italy
Provenance: Estate of John Loring, former design director of … Read more Murano Tesserine Glass Mosaic Mushroom Table Lamp Attributed to TAO, Italy
Provenance: Estate of John Loring, former design director of Tiffany & Co.
Consists of a two-piece set, Shade and Base

An exceptional Murano tesserine glass mosaic mushroom table lamp attributed to TAO, Italy, circa 1960s. Meticulously handcrafted from hundreds of individually cut Murano glass tesserine, each piece is carefully hand-wired to a steel armature to create the lamp's sculptural domed shade and matching pedestal base. The result is an extraordinary example of Italian studio craftsmanship, blending traditional Venetian glassmaking with innovative sculptural lighting design.

Unlike conventional Murano mushroom lamps formed from blown glass, this example is constructed using the labor-intensive tesserine technique. Small rectangular Murano glass tiles are individually secured with fine wire, producing a richly textured surface that transforms when illuminated. Light passes through the layered glass, creating a warm, shimmering glow while the hand-cut edges refract light with remarkable depth and brilliance. Even when unlit, the lamp possesses the presence of a sculptural object, its woven glass surface celebrating the subtle variations inherent to handcrafted Murano glass.

The name TAO is associated with a small Italian workshop recognized for producing distinctive architectural lighting utilizing Murano tesserines rather than traditional blown glass. Their works remain comparatively uncommon and are appreciated for both their painstaking construction and their sculptural modernist aesthetic.

Professionally rewired with a cloth-covered cord and inline switch, the lamp is ready for immediate use while preserving its original character. Equally suited to Mid-Century Modern, Postmodern, and contemporary interiors, it functions as both an illuminating object and a work of Venetian glass art.

Provenance: Acquired from the estate of John Loring, former design director of Tiffany & Co., whose celebrated career and discerning eye for exceptional design have made his personal collection especially noteworthy among collectors of decorative arts.

Dimensions
Overall: 12.5 in. H × 10.5 in. Diameter
Shade: 10.5 in. Diameter × 6.5 in. H
Base: 8 in. H × 8 in. Diameter
Condition

Excellent vintage condition. Professionally rewired with a cloth-covered cord and inline switch. Minor variations and irregularities in the hand-cut glass are inherent to the artisan construction and contribute to the lamp's originality and character.

Circa: 1980s
Origin: Italy
Attribution: TAO
Materials: Murano glass tesserine, steel wire, steel armature See less