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