Gubi

Lotus Table lamp glass transparent / Reprint 1969

Lotus Lamp by Carlo Nason: Four Glass Petals to Sculpt Light

Part lighting fixture, part glass sculpture, the Lotus lamp designed by Carlo Nason in 1969 is making a comeback at Gubi after more than fifty years out of production. Its floral silhouette is formed by layering four mouth blown glass elements. Interlocked like the petals of a blossoming flower, they conceal the light source and transform its brilliance into a soft, enveloping glow. A spectacular piece that embodies the glassmaking expertise of Murano and the experimental spirit of 1960s Italian design.

A glass flower born in 1969

The name Lotus is no coincidence. Carlo Nason envisioned the lamp as a series of concentric corollas. From the Base to the top, the four sections nest within one another, giving the lamp its instantly recognizable stepped profile. This construction lends depth to the object, even when it is turned off.

Designed in 1969, the Lotus emerged during a particularly creative period for Carlo Nason. Born into a family of master glassmakers from Murano, the Italian designer was then exploring the possibilities of glass to transcend its purely decorative function. Transparency, opacity, and layering became tools he used to simultaneously shape form and light.

Carlo Nason: Between Glass and Light

Born in Murano in 1935 into a family of master glassmakers, Carlo Nason grew up immersed in traditional glassmaking techniques before offering a resolutely modern interpretation of them. Beginning in the late 1950s, the Italian designer gradually moved away from purely decorative work to explore more sculptural forms. In his lighting designs, transparency, opacity, and layering became means of shaping light. The Lotus lamp perfectly illustrates this approach, blending the ancestral craftsmanship of Murano with the experimental spirit that defined Italian design in the 1960s.

Pulegoso: The Art of Trapping Air in Glass

The Lotus’s character stems as much from its form as from its material. Its various elements are crafted from mouth blown glass using the pulegoso technique. This process gives the glass its irregular appearance, punctuated by a multitude of tiny bubbles that create a semi-opaque texture.

These irregularities are not merely decorative effects. They directly influence the light. As it passes through the varying thicknesses of the glass, the light is filtered and gradually diffused. The subtle variations inherent in the mouth-blowing process also contribute to the unique character of each lamp.

Sculpture when off, a light when on

This is perhaps where the Lotus reveals the full ingenuity of its design. When unlit, its four layers remain perfectly visible, giving it the presence of a sculptural glass object. Once lit, the light source disappears behind this transparent structure, and the forms seem to glow from within.

The Gubi reissue preserves this close relationship between material and light. It combines glass with a Black Chrome-finished steel base, which remains discreet beneath the imposing crown. With a diameter of 47 cm and a height of 42 cm, the Gubi Lotus lamp has generous proportions that allow it to become a true focal point in the room.

What kind of light does the Lotus lamp emit?

The Lotus emits a warm, soft light that is primarily ambient. Its 6-watt opal LED bulb offers a color temperature of 2700 K. It is included with the lamp. The four layers of glass directly shield the light source and help soften its glare to create an enveloping atmosphere.

It is therefore particularly well-suited for ambient lighting rather than precise functional lighting. Its warm light is perfect for a dinner, a moment of relaxation, or softer lighting in the evening.

Where should you place a large Lamp like the Lotus?

With a diameter of 47 cm, the large Lotus lamp deserves a sufficiently spacious surface to allow its silhouette to stand out. Placed on a large table, a Dresser, or a deep Console table, it can become the centerpiece of the arrangement. In the living room, it also works well on an end table of suitable proportions, where its low height allows you to enjoy its soft glow without creating an overly imposing vertical presence.

Its clear, textured glass makes it easy to integrate into a wide variety of settings. It can complement dark wood to accentuate its Italian flair, pair with stone for a more mineral-inspired look, or stand alongside contemporary furniture with clean lines to let its form take center stage.

Is the Lotus lamp dimmable?

No, the Lotus lamp is listed as non-dimmable in the available documentation. It features a switch located directly on its black cable.

However, the 2700 K color temperature of the included bulb provides a warm light right out of the box, well-suited to the lamp’s decorative and atmospheric purpose.

More than just a revival from the archives, the reissue of Carlo Nason’s Lotus highlights a very distinctive approach to working with glass. Carlo Nason does not merely design a lampshade around a bulb. He constructs four successive layers that filter, soften, and add depth to the light. Placed at the heart of a living room or dining room, the Lotus becomes what its design has promised since 1969: a glass flower that truly blooms only when lit.

In detail:

• Variation : Transparent

• Brand : Gubi

• Designer : Carlo Nason

• Type : Table lamp

• Colour : Transparent (bubbled glass) / black base

• Material : Mouth blown glass using the pulegoso technique—Base: Steel

• Dimensions : Ø 47 × H 42 cm - Base: Ø 17 cm
• Weight : 27.61 lb
• Characteristics : Year of creation: 1969 (reissued in 2026, after more than 50 years out of production) — Carlo Nason is an Italian designer from a family of master glassmakers in Murano - Design icon - Cable-mounted switch - Textured glass with a semi-opaque texture - Bulb (included): 1 x 6W LED, 2700K, opal