| Glass is all around us and it has been for | | | | as finely labored as lace, as light as |
| centuries. It is so commonly used that we | | | | feathers, yet full of glorious colors. It is |
| literally see through it… so why | | | | here that the Murano glass tradition as we |
| pay so much for a piece of glass jewelry? | | | | know it today begun: paperweights, vases, |
| Just because it is Made in Murano? | | | | chandeliers, mirrors, candy-glass ornaments, |
| | | | plates in different sizes and shapes, bottles |
| Because it is Made in Murano! | | | | of all sizes, tableware, small colored |
| | | | animals, figurines, calligraphy pens and of |
| Heat a blob of glass until molten, hold it | | | | course jewelries! With regards to jewelry, |
| with tongs or pliers ("borselle") and attach | | | | one popular souvenir is la Murrina: a slim |
| an iron blowpipe to it. Now, roll the hot | | | | round pendant in colored glass with spiral or |
| ball of glass while at the same time you're | | | | flower patterns that is hung on gold, silver |
| blowing through a blowing pipe ("canna da | | | | or just a simple cotton necklace around your |
| soffio"). Then heat the glass again and | | | | neck. |
| repeat the above steps in order to obtain a | | | | |
| small wonder. That's exactly how the magic of | | | | The art of glass blowing is first of all a |
| Murano glass begins. | | | | family tradition in Italy, as thorough |
| | | | understanding of the material and excellent |
| Just as magic and nevertheless as | | | | glassblowing techniques are required to fully |
| extraordinary, glass is all around us. Found | | | | exploit the qualities of the glass. Technical |
| in many different color and shapes, be it a | | | | knowledge and skills combined with passion |
| vase, a bowl, a church's stained glass | | | | and pride taken in a work well done are |
| (medieval glass) or a bead necklace; with | | | | passed on through generations of glassblowers |
| gold or silver embedded in it or in vibrant | | | | and are developed in conjunction with a sense |
| colors… each and every glass | | | | of elegance and style, thoroughly appropriate |
| object is absolutely unique. | | | | to the material. |
| | | | |
| Exclusively hand made by a glass artist, a | | | | Some of the Murano manufacturers are |
| craftsman or a Master Artisan, hand made | | | | world-known for the beauty of the shapes, the |
| glass objects and especially Murano glass | | | | difficulty of their craft, and the constant |
| items are unique. | | | | quality of their product; think vintage |
| | | | Venini or Seguso. But even smaller |
| Why? | | | | manufacturers nowadays create outstanding |
| | | | products, and indeed sometimes they can |
| Because at the other end of the blowpipe a | | | | afford more freely to experiment and try new |
| human being is blowing life into the | | | | combinations both in design and in balancing |
| glass. And also for the very simple | | | | the colors, still always conforming to the |
| reason that human beings cannot make two | | | | traditional manufacturing techniques. |
| identical objects, just similar ones. | | | | |
| | | | Often the Murano glass - especially the |
| This is the genuine appeal and magic of a | | | | larger, more valuable pieces - comes |
| blown glass item: one can have as many as one | | | | accompanied by a guarantee, be it the |
| can afford to buy and they can be more or | | | | artist's signature or workshop's trademark or |
| less beautiful, but no two of them will ever | | | | a slip containing a certificate of |
| be the same if they are individually blown. | | | | authenticity. An original Murano item is |
| And glass has been manufactured since the 3rd | | | | heavy, its colors bright and its glass |
| millennium BC in Egypt, where 1st century BC | | | | flawless. The lack of such a guarantee does |
| holds evidence of the first true blown glass | | | | not necessarily mean that one would be |
| in Syria. | | | | dealing with a fake or a copy. But then, how |
| | | | can I tell the real thing, how can I be |
| Throughout the centuries blown glass has | | | | confident that I'm not being sold "fake" |
| remained a luxury material and its art has | | | | Murano glass? Our advice is to buy from a |
| flourished during the Roman world. The white | | | | respectable, specialized shop. Like Alluring |
| silica sand from this area was the ideal raw | | | | Creations. |
| material to be used in the production of | | | | |
| Roman glass due to its low impurity levels. | | | | And above all, do not be afraid to ask |
| Starting with the 14th century, the island of | | | | questions to the shop owner: the best Murano |
| Murano, off the shore of Venice, Italy, | | | | glass dealers have an in-depth knowledge of |
| started to hold the monopoly in luxury glass | | | | their wares and will be all too happy to |
| creations: dinnerware, mirrors, jewelleries, | | | | answer your questions and help you make the |
| lighting products. It is here that throughout | | | | best choice possible. |
| a laborious and demanding work of art experts | | | | |
| craftsmen have been producing for many | | | | Last but not least, remember that Murano is |
| centuries blown glass objects of rare beauty; | | | | an investment, both cultural and financial! |