Murano swirl lamp: The history behind the iconic pattern

When there is one pattern that defines Murano glass in Danish interiors, it’s the swirl — the distinctive, spiraling bands of colored glass that wind through the lamp’s body. It’s Vetro’s signature design, with a history stretching back hundreds of years in Venetian glass workshops.

Filigrana: The technique behind the swirl

The swirl pattern is based on an age-old Murano technique called filigrana (or “a fili” — “with threads”). The technique was developed on the Murano island in the 16th century and is one of the most demanding glassblowing methods.

The process begins with the glassblower pulling thin rods of colored glass — called “canne” — and placing them side by side in a mold. Over this layer, the glassblower gathers a blob of clear, molten glass from the furnace. As they turn and blow the glass, the colored rods stretch out and spiral around the form, creating the swirl pattern we recognize.

Precise control of temperature, rotation, and breath is required to keep the threads even and the pattern harmonious. Too much rotation and the threads melt together. Too little and the pattern becomes irregular. It’s a balancing act mastered only after many years of practice.

The origin of the colors

The vibrant colors in Murano swirl glass don’t come from paint or coatings — they are an integral part of the glass itself. Glassblowers add minerals and metal oxides to the molten glass to create specific colors:

• Cobalt: Produces the deep, rich blue
• Copper: Creates shades of green and turquoise
• Manganese: Yields violet and purple tones
• Gold: Yes, real gold — added in microscopic amounts to give the warm ruby-red color
• Tin and arsenic: Historically used to create the white, opaque glass ("lattimo") that serves as a background for colored stripes
• Iron: Produces greenish and brownish tones depending on concentration

Each master glassmaker has their own recipes and secrets for precise color nuances — recipes often passed down through generations. That’s why the same color can look subtly different from one workshop to another.

The 1960s and ’70s: The golden age of the swirl lamp

Although the filigrana technique is centuries old, it was during the 1960s and ’70s that Murano glassblowers really began using it in lamp production. That era was marked by an experimental, playful approach to design, where Murano workshops collaborated with Italian designers to create new forms.

The characteristic round pendants and table lamps with colored swirl patterns quickly became popular in Italian and later European homes. It was a time when color and material mattered more than minimalism — and where craftsmanship was an inherent part of everyday objects.

Many original designs from that period are still in production today because they have proven timeless. Read more about Murano glass’s 700-year history.

Why no two swirl lamps are the same

It’s one of the things that makes swirl lamps so special: no two are identical. Even when a glassblower makes the “same” lamp twice, there will always be differences in how the threads twist, how close the bands sit, and how colors blend at the edges.

These variations are not flaws — they are the glassblower’s personal signature in each piece. That’s what sets mouth-blown Murano glass apart from mass-produced copies, where the pattern is uniform and predictable. Read more about how to recognize genuine Murano glass.

Candy Swirl: Vetro’s interpretation

Our Candy Swirl collection is Vetro’s own interpretation of the classic filigrana tradition. The name “Candy” refers to the playful, candy-like color combinations — pink and white, green and clear, amber and honey — that give the lamps their characteristic cheerful look.

All Candy Swirl lamps are mouth-blown by glassmasters on Murano island using the same techniques that have been practiced for centuries. The result is lamps that unite the best of an old tradition with a modern Scandinavian aesthetic.

Explore the full Candy Swirl collection, or read more about the Candy lamps’ signature design. See swirl lamps in context: as a dining pendant, bedside pendant or kitchen pendant.