Last Updated on October 18, 2025 by Gino
A Legacy of Italian Craftsmanship
Rocco Borghese – Italian lighting designer & glass artist – is celebrated for his sculptural chandeliers and handcrafted glass creations. Working between London and Italy, he blends traditional Venetian glassmaking with modern design to create lighting pieces that are timeless and architectural.
Working between London and Italy, Rocco blends traditional Venetian glassmaking with modern design principles, creating lighting pieces that are both timeless and architectural.
Each chandelier is developed with precision, proportion, and an instinctive understanding of light and form — transforming interiors into living works of art.
“Light is more than illumination. It’s emotion, rhythm, and memory captured in glass.”
– Rocco Borghese
The Neon Years – A New Language of Light
When Rocco Borghese arrived in London in his twenties, he brought with him a long tradition of Italian craftsmanship. His family’s foundry, Borghese Glass, established in 1824, was renowned for creating chandeliers and crystal lighting for churches, villas, and grand residences across Italy.
Rocco’s father, a master glassblower, introduced him to the world of molten glass at a young age. Growing up surrounded by furnaces, tools, and artisans, Rocco learned the patience and passion that define true Italian glassmaking.
In London, he discovered a new medium — neon. Its fluid motion and reaction to heat reminded him of Murano glass, yet its electric pulse offered something different: energy, rhythm, and life.
Working from a small North London studio, Rocco spent years experimenting with how light and gas interact within glass. Through relentless testing, he achieved what few had done before: he made light move from within the glass itself.
His early neon works drew attention from artists, collectors, and interior designers who were captivated by their emotional and kinetic quality. These experimental pieces, glowing with inner light, positioned Rocco among the most innovative neon glassblowers of his generation.
Neon light sculpture by Italian designer Rocco Borghese, part of his early experimental works exploring light and motion.
From Neon to Sculpture – The Art of Light
Over time, Rocco’s journey came full circle. His fascination with movement and light evolved into something more architectural and enduring — sculptural chandeliers that captured both innovation and tradition.
In the early 1990s, Rocco began creating pieces that would define his style: fluid compositions of glass and metal, balancing artistic freedom with technical precision. His work was exhibited at Euro Luce in Milan and Grand Designs Live in London, receiving praise for originality and craftsmanship.
Rocco opened his first London showroom in Crouch End, which became a hub for glass artists and designers. Here, he established a glassblowing school, mentoring young artisans and sharing his mastery of Venetian techniques. The studio quickly became a centre for modern glass experimentation in London, blending Italian artistry with British innovation.
Many of the designs born in that workshop are still in production today, each hand-formed and completely unique. More than thirty years later, those early works remain some of his most admired — timeless, expressive, and unmistakably Rocco Borghese.
The Evolution of a Master – Energia Cosmica
Among Rocco’s most distinctive projects is Energia Cosmica, a collection that unites sculpture, light, and movement. These pieces are born from Rocco’s fascination with the unseen energies that shape our world — cosmic forces captured through glass and metal.
Each sculpture reflects a lifetime of exploration: the fluidity of neon, the discipline of Murano, and the innovation of contemporary design. The result is a collection where art meets physics, and light becomes a living presence in the room.
Energia Cosmica chandelier by Italian lighting designer Rocco Borghese – a sculptural Murano glass and metal light installation blending art and illumination.
Energia Cosmica, a 1991 sculptural chandelier by Rocco Borghese — an early exploration of energy, glass, and motion in Italian lighting design.
The Legacy Continues
Today, Rocco Borghese Chandeliers continues the legacy of craftsmanship and innovation that began nearly two centuries ago. From the Chelsea showroom in London, Rocco and his team design and produce bespoke chandeliers, mirrors, and sculptural installations for some of the world’s most remarkable interiors.
Every project begins with a conversation about space, light, and emotion. Rocco personally oversees each stage — from concept sketches to final installation — ensuring every piece belongs perfectly in its setting.
His work can be found in private residences, hotels, cathedrals, royal palaces, and exclusive venues such as Annabel’s London. Each chandelier and sculpture carries the same principles that define the Borghese name: artistry, precision, and imagination.
Though the reach of the brand is now global, the heart remains the same — a deep respect for tradition, light, and the beauty of creation.
Today, Rocco Borghese – Italian lighting designer & glass artist – continues to create one-of-a-kind Murano chandeliers and sculptural installations worldwide.
Rocco Borghese – Italian Lighting Designer & Glass Artist
Rocco Borghese – Beyond Design
For Rocco, light is not decoration — it’s a language of emotion. His chandeliers do not merely illuminate; they transform. Every curve of glass and reflection of metal captures a fragment of human experience — elegance, warmth, and wonder.
As one of the leading Italian lighting designers in the world, Rocco’s creations represent a bridge between the heritage of Venetian glassmaking and the future of architectural lighting. His story is one of evolution — from a small studio with neon flames to illuminating some of the most exclusive spaces on earth.
