THE GLASS LABORATORY GLASS “... I came into contact with blown glass for the first time through Luciano Vistosi, an artist of Murano glass who owned a lamp factory and who asked me to design one. Working on the Vega lamp, I began to appreciate colour, transparency and the materiality of glass. after this I designed other objects in glass for Memphis and for Cleto Munari. But my first true object realized in glass are those which I designed for Produzione Privata because they are derived from a more intimate rapport with, and a more extensive notion of the essence of glass and above all of the historic culture anf the locality of Murano…”. Michele De Lucchi was, and still is, captivated by the charm of this Island in the middle of the lagoon where all the glass blowerd were sent in 1291, as working with open ovens, they had set fire to Venice several times. This island remained miracuolously intact continuing this tradition for centuries and even today everyone works with glass. Up until now the most successuful use of blown glass is that which has resulted in the Acquatinta lamp and its’ variations. It was deisgned with the notion of an unpretentions lamp with the form of an abat-jour which can adapt itself equally well in either modern or old surroundings. The research was concentrated on the finishes of plain glass, and various others were also tried; transparent and opaque sandblasted, transparent and opaque acid finish, mirrored, transparent, crystal and innumerable colours. Starting with the basic forms, lamps of varying character evolved with different light qualities, strong or diffuse light. The completely transparent version was a total surprise as it appeared to all. as a new concept never used previously. Perhaps this explains the success of this lamp, which with its poetic nakedness, appeals to a much wider audience than that of the otehr small series of Produzione Privata. The pressure of the demand for large production numbers has put the whole organization in crisis, but in the end this has served to reinforce and consolidate the objectives of Produzione Privata. All of the Acquatinta and also the Acquaparete lamps are mouth-blown one by one. The small imperfections and variatons demonstrate the artisan process. In comparison with other glass, blown glass is thinner and is evident in the transparent version where the impact of the pure material is fascinating. To blow the Acquatinta and the Acquaparete, the craftsmen use wooden forms and they can make a maximum of twenty pieces a day. Sybille Kicherer, The Complete Collection of Michele De Lucchi’s Produzione Privata Picture: Bonne Nuit, photo: Michele De Lucchi 2009 - Bonne Nuit first sketch, pencil on paper, Michele De Lucchi 2008