| Murano Glass is a very versatile piece | | | | imitation of gemstones made of glass |
| of glassmaking art. There exist various | | | | etc. |
| colors, techniques, materials that can | | | | One of the most famous types of Murano |
| vary depending on the look of the object | | | | glass in the world is millefiori glass - |
| the glassmaker is creating. It's well | | | | literally a visiting card of Murano |
| known that Venetian artists do not add | | | | glassmakers nowadays. In short, |
| any special coloring chemicals to color | | | | millefiori is glasswork technique, which |
| the glass. To create a certain color of | | | | makes millions of one-of-a-kind patterns |
| the transparent glass, the glassmaker | | | | on glassware. The term "Millefiori" is a |
| adds different combinations of metals. | | | | combination of two Italian words "mille" |
| The compounds involved in this process | | | | (thousand) and "fiori" (flowers). |
| are very sensitive to proportions so one | | | | The millefiori technique involves two |
| should be extremely accurate in mixing | | | | basic procedures. The first technique is |
| them. For example, aquamarine color is | | | | layering of a number of layers of glass |
| created through the use of combination | | | | of different colors in a mold that |
| of copper and cobalt compounds, green - | | | | produces different patterns viewable |
| copper oxides, ruby red uses a gold | | | | only from the cut ends. These patterns |
| solution as a coloring agent. | | | | are called murrines. Further, the |
| The base of many types of Murano glass | | | | murrines are embedded into clear or |
| is Cristallo - a special clear glass of | | | | colored glass to create unique |
| highest quality. This name is associated | | | | combinations of patterns. |
| with the names of precious stones - as | | | | Though nowadays there are many famous |
| this glass has a perfect transparency | | | | schools of glassmaking in the world, the |
| quality. | | | | Murano glassmakers still hold the |
| Another great invention of Venetian | | | | positions of the leaders in introduction |
| glassmakers is lattimo glass (milky | | | | of many technological processes and |
| glass) - an opaque white glass. Mostly | | | | innovations in glass creations. Murano |
| lattimo glass is used in the form of | | | | glass is used in many spheres of artisan |
| thin canes to make elaborate lacy | | | | work - production of lighting fixtures |
| patterns in clear glass. | | | | (chandeliers, wall sconces etc.), glass |
| Murano artisans used a lot of techniques | | | | sculptures, parts of home decoration |
| of glassmaking originated from the | | | | pieces like door handles, curtain rods |
| Ancient times. They made a lot of | | | | etc. |
| improvements in many processes creating | | | | Today, Murano is the home of the Museo |
| new designs and elaborating the quality | | | | Vetrario (Glass Museum) in the Palazzo |
| of the glass itself. Among the types of | | | | Giustinian, which holds displays on the |
| glass inherited from Egyptians, Romans, | | | | history of glassmaking as well as glass |
| and Middle Eastern glassmakers one can | | | | samples ranging from Egyptian times |
| mention smalto (enameled glass), | | | | through the present day. |
| aventurine (glass with threads of gold), | | | | |