Carlo Nason was born in Murano, Italy, in 1935 into one of the island's oldest glassmaking families. From childhood, he observed master artisans at work and learned the traditional methods of blowing, shaping, and decorating glass. He began his career at the family company, V. Nason & C., initially creating decorative vessels before turning his attention toward lighting and a more modern design language. Rather than following the ornate character associated with traditional Venetian glass, he explored clear silhouettes, geometric construction, and the expressive potential of opaline and layered glass.
From 1965 through the 1980s, Nason maintained an important collaboration with A.V. Mazzega, producing an extensive body of sculptural lamps that established his international reputation. He later worked with manufacturers including Vistosi, Carlo Moretti, Livio Seguso, and Leucos, while also experimenting with ceramics, graphics, photography, and product design beyond glass. Several of his works entered major collections, and in 2015 the Triennale Milano presented an exhibition celebrating his contribution to contemporary Murano design. Nason died on May 6, 2026, leaving a legacy defined by technical mastery, formal innovation, and a lifelong commitment to glass as a modern design material.
