Murano glass is one of the best known and most appreciated expressions of Venetian art and craftsmanship . It is a type of glass produced on the island of Murano, located in the Venice lagoon, by master glassmakers who have handed down their techniques and secrets for centuries.
The origins
The history of Murano glass originates in the Middle Ages , when in 1291 the Republic of Venice ordered all glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano to avoid the fire of the city's buildings which at that time were largely constructed of wood.
Here they developed a great skill in working glass , creating works of rare beauty and quality, such as chandeliers, mirrors, glasses, jewels and sculptures.
This is why Murano is famous .
Processing techniques
Murano glass is distinguished by its variety of colours, shapes and decorations, reflecting the influence of different cultures and artistic styles.
The working techniques of real Murano glass are many and require skill and mastery. Some of the best known are:
- The fusion in the furnace : it consists in heating the glass to a temperature of about 1400°C until it becomes malleable, then modeling it with tools called blowpipes, bridges and bags. Glass can be colored with the addition of metal oxides or mixed with other materials such as aventurine or milky glass.
- Lampwork : it consists of heating the borosilicate glass with a blowtorch and modeling it with pliers or scissors. This technique allows you to create small objects with great detail, such as pearls, animals or flowers.
- The tipetto : it is a typical technique for making Murano goblets, characterized by a thin stem and a decorated cup. The tipetto is a wooden mold that is used to shape the stem of the goblet, while the cup is modeled by hand or with iron moulds.
- The Venetian mirror : it is a mirror decorated with Murano glass frames and motifs. Its production requires seven steps: the preparation of the glass plate, the tinning with an alloy of tin and mercury, the polishing with pumice stone powder, the gilding with gold leaf, the decoration with enamels and paints, the engraving with punches and gravers and the assembly of the parts.
Other famous techniques, especially for the creation of glass jewels are:
- The millefiori , which consists in joining many small pieces of colored glass to form flowers;
- The filigree , which consists in inserting threads of white or colored glass inside the transparent glass;
- Submerged , which consists in wrapping a layer of colored glass with a layer of transparent glass;
- Lattimo , which consists of adding tin dioxide to the glass to make it opaque and white.
In conclusion
Murano glass is still today a symbol of Venetian identity and creativity , and is appreciated all over the world as a product of high quality and originality. You can see on this page the original Venice Collectrions necklaces , you can also see how much a Murano glass necklace costs.
Don't miss the opportunity to enrich your look with a touch of elegance and Venetian charm!
Buying a Murano glass object means bringing home a piece of history and art, which bears witness to the skill and passion of its creators.