Italian Murano Glass 'Giogali' Chandelier by Angelo Mangiarotti, 1970s

An Italian Murano glass chandelier from the 1970s, designed by Angelo Mangiarotti as part of the celebrated Giogali series.

Composed of over 700 clear glass elements, the chandelier takes its form from a simple interlocking hook. Each hand-formed piece catches and redirects light, creating a surface that feels at once delicate.

The structure is suspended from a discreet metal frame, allowing the glass to gather into a soft, cascading volume. Rather than following the symmetry of a traditional chandelier, the strands descend at varied lengths, giving the piece an almost textile-like movement.

From a distance, it reads as a luminous mass; up close, its character comes from the repetition of individual Murano elements.

Mangiarotti’s design is distinctly of its era, rooted in the Italian tradition of treating glass as both material and structure. The transparency keeps the silhouette light, while the density of the hanging chains gives it presence.

About Angelo Mangiarotti
Angelo Mangiarotti (1921–2012) was an influential Italian architect, sculptor, and designer celebrated for his rigorous, innovative approach to materials, form, and construction. Born in Milan, he graduated from the Politecnico di Milano in 1948 before moving to the United States in 1953, where he taught at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and developed relationships with influential figures including Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Konrad Wachsmann.

Returning to Milan in 1955, he established an architectural practice with Bruno Morassutti, producing industrial, residential, and cultural projects until their partnership ended in 1960. Alongside architecture, Mangiarotti developed a distinguished body of furniture, lighting, sculpture, and objects, distinguished by his masterful treatment of materials such as marble, wood, and glass.

His celebrated designs include the Giogali glass-link lighting series for Vistosi, the Incas Table, and numerous works produced by leading manufacturers including Artemide, Bernini, Cappellini, Knoll, and Skipper. A recipient of numerous honors, including the 1994 Career Compasso d’Oro, Mangiarotti’s work has been exhibited internationally at institutions including the Centre Pompidou, Triennale Design Museum, and Gallery MA Tokyo. He died in Milan in 2012, leaving a lasting legacy as one of Italy’s most inventive postwar designers.