Heart Of glass

By Jenny Brewer idfx

I went along to Vessel Gallery in Notting Hill, London yesterday to see the latest creations from Italian lighting design studio Mediterraneo - five limited edition statement pendant lights crafted in hand-blown Murano glass and metal. The Intuizione collection uses layers of simple geometric shapes to create dramatic silhouettes, finished in an unusual combination of stunning Venetian glass and contemporary metal structures.

Giovanni Corrado, creative director of Mediterraneo, challenged the perceptions of traditional Murano chandeliers with pared-down detail and bold forms, spurred on by the collaboration with Vessel Gallery. 'The new designs challenge typecast ideas of Murano glass... using a thousand-year-old craft tradition to create relevant contemporary design.' Corrado aimed to create a sense of movement with each of the pieces, part of the brief from Vessel gallery to further investigate themes found in his 2009 collection.

From the collection, Leopoldo (above) puts a contemporary twist on the familiar shapes of conventional chandeliers, while Elio (below) mixes luxurious materials and soft silhouettes with industrial aesthetics. My favourite though was Osiris (top), for its shots of vibrant coloured glass.

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