Glassmaking is an ancient art that tells of centuries-old knowledge, handed down from generation to generation by the love and passion of expert craftsmen who carefully hold a tradition of excellence.
True icons of timeless beauty are born when know-how and craftsmanship meet design, to form a perfect synthesis of tradition and innovation.
This is the case of the Giogali and Minigiogali collections designed by Angelo Mangiarotti in 1967 for Vistosi, the lighting brand that has brought glass to perfection.
The Giogali lamp (Compasso d’Oro mention in 1969) introduced a new concept in the use of glass: a modular lighting system based on a single hand-crafted crystal element (a type of hook) that can be repeated indefinitely to give life to structures that appear like cascades of light.
The hook is the basic module that constitutes the entire architecture of the Giogali system (name that derives from the Venetian “giongher”, or the strap used in the countryside to tie the cart to the yoke), Mangiarotti’s modern interpretation of the Venetian chandelier.
Long-term research based on the innovation of traditional shapes generated the hook, which thus becomes the constructive element of the chandelier itself.
Available in different colours, it is made in table-top, ceiling, wall and suspension versions. The basic element can be hooked in a series to form crystal chains, which in turn can be combined to create unlimited formal designs, such as chandeliers of any size that become scenographic backdrop of rooms.
Following a restyling of the product, Vistosi introduced the Giogali 3D version in 2005: a new type of hook in glass that allows it to be paired to rings in all four directions, so as to form a continuous mesh that allows great installation flexibility.
Today, Giogali and Minigiogali – the smaller version of Giogali, which allows the use of crystal hooks for smaller, standard or made-to-measure wall installations – have harmonious and rounded silhouettes and balanced compositions: the light source has been positioned in the centre, and the number of bulbs has been increased in many models. This made it possible to significantly improve the diffusion of light. The chain has been replaced by a steel cable and lens rosette that has the same finish as the frame. These details all help to give a new twist to this timeless design icon.