Header: Courtesy of iDOGI
Light is rarely static, but capturing its constant movement in a physical object is one of the greatest challenges in contemporary lighting design. With the Sirio chandelier, Venetian glass studio iDOGI has looked directly to the night sky for answers. The piece takes its cues from scintillation, which is the scientific term for the way starlight flickers and changes as it travels through the atmosphere of the Earth. Instead of creating a traditional, rigid light fixture, the designers have shaped a fluid, oval installation that mimics the organic grouping of satellites in space.
Shaping light with 114 hand-blown satellites
At the heart of this piece is a structural rhythm built from 114 individual glass elements. While every single piece shares the exact same shape, their sizes vary. This deliberate variation prevents the fixture from looking mass-produced or overly mechanical. The oval volume measures 150 centimetres in diameter and stands 200 centimetres tall, holding a total of 38 lights. By hanging these individual glass components at different heights, the makers have created a sense of suspension, making the heavy materials look light, airy, and almost weightless.
The art of the Murano balloton texture
The depth of the chandelier comes from the specific way the glass is made. Artisans use the traditional Murano balloton technique, a historic process where hot glass is blown into a metal mould with small, pyramid-shaped points. This creates a distinct diamond pattern on the surface of the glass. When the 38 lights inside the chandelier switch on, these thousands of tiny glass facets catch the rays, splitting and multiplying the light in every direction. The warm champagne tones and brushed gold finishes further soften the glow, giving the entire structure a sophisticated, rich warmth.
Preserving heritage through modern form
The design carries subtle nods to Art Déco shapes, but its execution is entirely modern. It avoids the predictable symmetry of old-school crystal fixtures, opting instead for a looser, intentionally imperfect placement that feels alive. This balance between strict glassmaking heritage and free-flowing form shows a deep respect for traditional Venetian craftsmanship while pushing it into new territory. The piece will be on display this September in Venice at the Homo Faber exhibition, an event chosen by the Michelangelo Foundation to highlight top-tier global craftsmanship.
Great design often succeeds because it makes us pause and look at familiar things differently. By turning the fleeting, natural flicker of a star into an object made of gold and hand-blown glass, this chandelier serves as a reminder that ancient craft techniques can still feel incredibly current when they are guided by a strong, poetic idea.
