Italy – A History of the Home of Murano Glass

By Thomas F Dickenson

Murano glass features a extended background as one of the most prized goods of Italy. Glassmaking took hold as an critical sector in Venice as early as the 8th century. Glass goods became so important towards the city’s economic climate that the glassmakers were necessary by law to live on the tiny island of Murano within the Adriatic Sea.

Their isolation helped to make sure that their glassmaking secrets were well protected and the trade secrets typically stayed inside the household. The glassmakers benefited from their circumstance too. Though craftsmen couldn’t leave the city, the daughters of these respected glassmakers had been permitted to marry into Venetian nobility.

By the 15th century, the glass developed in Italy was in the height of its reputation. New developments had been becoming designed that continually expanded the possibilities readily available to glassmakers. Murano glassmakers became the only European producers of mirrors immediately after Angelo Barovier perfected the art of generating clear glass. Other discoveries with the 15th and 16th centuries included a porcelain-like glass referred to as lattimo, filigrana glass intersected with variously colored glass rods, and ice glass which gave the product a exclusive cracked look. Gilding and enameling were common strategies in the time too. These innovative glass designs kept Italy topmost amongst producers inside the glassmaking business.

By means of the 17th and 18th centuries, Murano glass saw a sharp decline and Italy lost its foothold because the center of fine glassmaking in Europe. Venetian trade routes lost significantly of their reputation and Murano glass was no longer perfectly positioned at the crossroads of main trade thoroughfares. Stiff competitors arose in France and Napoleon abolished the glassmakers’ guild in Venice when he conquered the city in 1797. When the Hapsburg Empire gained control of Venice, they continued to suppress the glassmaking industry in Italy in favor of advertising glass merchandise from Bohemia. Only five glass blowers’ furnaces were nevertheless making Murano glass by 1820.

The glass industry in Italy saw a brilliant revival in 1854 when the Fratelli Toso residence was reopened and rededicated to generating conventional glass merchandise. Within half a decade, Antonio Salviati had opened a factory of his own to revive Murano glassmaking. Even though these producers originally focused only on traditional techniques, the art of Murano glass steadily began to evolve to help keep up with establishing trends in art. In 1909, some Murano glassmakers gave their functions a distinct art nouveau style. Modern day designs with clean lines evolved in the 1920s. Over subsequent decades, Murano glassmakers have displayed a gorgeous capability to honor ancient tradition even though nevertheless generating stunning present day merchandise.

Thomas Dickenson is an expert in Italy. To learn more about Venice Jewelry and Murano Glass, visit www.directfromvenice.com today!

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