Livio Seguso is a true son of Murano who was greatly interested in his glass making heritage which kept the whole world in awe for ages from the very years of his life. He was born in 1930 as the son of a glass maker and conquered the art from a very tender age. After acquiring a near perfect skill in the art from his father, he started his experiments in this very-difficult-to-tame medium.… read more

The tiny island of Murano, in the Venetian lagoon, is virtually synonymous with Italian glass and home to many major Italian glassworks. In the 13th century, many glassworks on the Venetian mainland were forced to relocate to Murano to protect the city from the risk of fire from the glass furniture. Great secrecy surrounded the Venetian supremacy in glassmaking and members of the city's glassmaking guild were forbidden to travel or divulge their secrets. From about the mid-15th century through to the 17th century, Venice became the leading glassmaking center of the world, as the virtuoso Muranese glass-blowers produced glass of matchless quality...… read more

Murano Island lies in the picturesque Venetian lagoon. This island has been celebrates as the center of world’s most creative glass works from the 13^th century. This is a group of seven islands. These islands are connected with each other by means of bridges, which are incredibly artistic structures.

You can travel to Murano by means of vaporetto or water bus services from the main island of Venice. To travel through the Grand Canal during the Christmas season can be a memorable experience. The canal can be partially frozen on very cold days and the pieces of ice floating along provide a beautiful scene...… read more

Murano Island is a beautiful and more or less isolated island in the Adriatic Sea and is a part of Venice. Venice was once known for its glass blowing industry. The old Venice comprising wooden buildings was not too suited for the extremely high temperature of the glass furnaces. This fact forced the authorities to find another place for their ancient art. The island of Murano was sufficiently away from the main land and so it was selected. The furnaces and the artisans were shifted to the island in 1291.

The industry flourished well and soon Murano glass articles conquered the world. The 15^th and 16^th century were said to be the golden era of Murano glass industry. From the 17^th century it began to lose its glory mainly because of the competition from glass industry in other countries like China.

In the 18^th century there came a savior for this declining industry in the person of Antonio Salviati, a lawyer by profession. It so happened that he was involved in the restoration of the mosaic in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. This got him interested in the glass art. So in 1959 he founded a business in the same line with a partner, Lorenzo Radi. Soon the firm gathered international fame and it was commissioned for working the mosaic of none less than Westminster Abbey. This gave Salviati great confidence and decided to extend his interest to other glass articles...… read more

Giovanni Ponti aka Gio Ponti was an Italian designer who did not stop at designing one thing. He designed everything from table ware to large sophisticated buildings. He also wielded his pen in writing poems and articles in magazines. As if he was not satisfied with any of these activities, he served as a professor in many institutions inspiring the younger generation to be as active as himself. According to his daughter, he was a man who packed 60 hours’ work in 24 hours.

This incredibly talented man was born in Milan Italy in 1891. He started his career with ceramics art even if he had a degree in architecture. Soon he diverted his attention to his learned profession of architecture...… read more

Italy, that part of Europe which extends deep into the Mediterranean and which is shaped like the stiletto heeled lady’s leg, is as unique as its shape. It is a land that has witnessed many great events in history. Rome with the abode of The Pop is a much celebrated part of Italy. Venice with its incredible constructions in water is a much sought after tourist destination. The magnificent museums, monuments and remains of great antique constructions make Italy an interesting destination for history buffs.

Italy holds a major part of human history in its museums, antique buildings and gardens. Italy has the most number of world heritage sites. The country teems with tourists year round. The magnificent sights and pleasant climate is not the only attractions that draw people all over the world to Italian shores.

Italy is one of the world’s most renowned shopping destinations. The leather goods, designer products, exquisite Murano glass articles, Sorrento Music boxes, intricate Burano laces and porcelain goods are some of the must-buys in Italy. The Italian cuisine is another world over attraction.

When you travel abroad it usually becomes mandatory to bring back small little curios for relatives and friends. So here is a souvenir shopping guide for you.

When you buy a souvenir, it is very important to make sure that you buy genuine products. Today’s markets being flooded with counterfeit products, you should look for the characteristic marks and certificates of authenticity before buying a souvenir...… read more

Summer is the season for brightly colored marigolds, chrysanthemums and asters etc. Summer is also a time for entertaining friends and family. So you may be throwing more parties in this season than any other. Parties mean decoration. You cannot risk your house looking less than decorated.

Flowers are indispensable for hall and room decoration. The banquet table, the side tables, tables in the foyers – they all need to be decorated with flowers in beautiful vases. It is essential to select suitable vases for each of these tables. The beauty of the table depends invariably on the choice of the vases and flower arrangements.

There is a vast collection of décor vases with the 1001shops. Each of them is created with great care and artistry. You can select the vases that go with your interior and fill them with the flowers of your choice.

Now arranging fresh flowers in the vase is quite good but the disadvantage is that you will have to take a lot of efforts to keep them fresh. But if you can get artificial flowers that look life-like, it would be a blessing. You can arrange those days ahead and concentrate on other aspects of the party.

Here are some bright ideas for your summer party décor...… read more

Summer is the season of warmth and sunlight. This is the season when the whole earth and its inhabitants come alive. The holidays begin. This is the time to soak up the sunlight for a whole year. The outdoor activities flourish everywhere.

This is the season for concerts, parties and festivals. This is the glam-up time. The ladies flit around in colorful clothes and ornaments. Do you find it difficult to choose the suitable ornaments for special occasions? Here is a guide for you...… read more

Dino Martens was basically a painter. He was born in Venice in the year 1894. He learned art in Accademia di Belle Arti. He moved to the island of Murano in his youth. He worked with many of the then luminaries in glass blowing as a designer. But it was only for a short time.

His paintings were very famous at that time because it was very innovative and had adapted a new style, Novecento. The paintings were exhibited in the Venice Biennale between 1924 and 1930.

After the Second World War the art forms of every kind exhibited a marked change. They adopted a new brightness which was symbolic of hope and life. Dino Martens who had returned from the war in Africa joined Aureliano Toso in his Decorativi Rag Aureliano Toso in 1939...… read more

Glass making in America has begun as early as the beginning of the 17th century. It was the emigrants who started to make glass in America. But the industry could not thrive till the 19th century because of various reasons. According to recorded history it was a group of eight Germans who started making glass in America. The first glass factory is said to have been establish in Jamestown in Virginia.

Window glass and bottles were the items that were produced at that time. Then table ware began to be produced. Throughout the 18th and 19th century glass industry went on without much momentum. But glass blowing gained great impetus from the beginning of the 20th century with the coming of people like Frank and john Fenton. Tiffany and Steuben were other luminaries in the world of American glass blowing...… read more

The Venetian Island of Murano is called the glass capital of the world because it was on this island the incredibly beautiful and delicate art of Blowing and shaping glass evolved. This age-old art was propagated through the works of the ancient glass maestros of the island. While most of the predecessors of these artisans have discarded the traditional art in order to pursue other professions, a few members of the present generation preserved the passion in their hearts. Davide Salvadore is one of such people.

Davide Salvadore was born in the Island of Murano in the year 1953. He was initiated into the glass works at a very tender age by his grandfather. He learned the techniques of building kilns and blowing glass under his grandfather. The young Davide nursed a strong passion for the traditional art...… read more

The Corning Museum of glass has taken upon itself the responsibility of educating the world about one of the antique arts – the art of glass blowing. It is engaged in spreading all the multifaceted aspects of glass art throughout the world – its history, art, science and techniques. The Museum has put together a number of programs for this purpose.

Hundreds of glass art enthusiasts visit the museum everyday and acquire firsthand knowledge of the history and techniques of the art through many live shows and hands on experiences. The museum authorities conduct these programs wherever that can – on the streets, in cruises and of course, inside the museum...… read more

Dale Chihuly is one of the iconic glass artists of modern America. He is much acclaimed for his large installations and sculptures. Chihuly enjoys the much coveted popularity all over the world and his creations have found their way into almost all the internationally renowned museums and exhibitions.

This living legend was born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington. His formal education was disrupted many a time, mainly because of his lack of interest. Born with an artistic temperament, Chihuly could not sustain his academic studies for much long. After gaining his secondary school graduation, he left scholastic pursuits to join the University of Washington to study interior design. Even if he started to learn glass woks in 1961, he was not very satisfied with it...… read more

Graduation after completing a particular course is an occasion of celebration and congratulation. While it is a day of festivities for the graduate, commemorating an accomplishment, it is equally festive for friends and relatives who would like to share the sense of triumph. That is where gifts are relevant.

While speeches and parties are delightfully pertinent, gifts and mementoes are things that would bring back the live memories of those happy occasions even after many years. So gifting a student on his/her graduation is a highly significant deed.

While choosing the gifts for the occasion one should take many aspects into consideration. It should be an apt gift. You can choose gifts like something related to the graduate’s future aspirations, study table décor articles, photo frames etc...… read more

“The hand that rocks the cradle (moulds) the world”. A slight adaptation of the adage is not at all out of place when we think of the wonderful human being who has given us unconditional love from the time we began as a cluster of cells in her womb. There is no way we can repay all the sacrifice she has taken upon herself for our welfare. To allot one day to remember her and honor her is scarcely enough. At the same time we must take it as a day on which we express our love to her in some tangible way.

Mothers’ day came into existence as a result of the efforts of one daughter to honor her mother and to extend the honor to all the mothers the world over. It was Anna Jarvis who decided that the mothers of the world deserve special consideration by her children at least for a day in a year.

So the practice of making the mother happy on the mothers’ day became a must. You can take your mother to dinners and on tours or to any activity she loves. But giving her a token of your love is imperative. How to choose an apt gift for the person who has gifted life to you? Here are some ideas that may help...… read more

Pate-de-verre is said to be a glass art which was in practice three thousand years ago in Egypt. There are evidences that show that this technique was used in Rome and China also thousands of years ago. But then the art was lost and forgotten. This incredible art was revived in France during the Art Nouveau period by various artists. The Daum Nancy glass was the most important among them.

This is a highly complicated and time consuming artistic work. At the same time this allows slow gradation of colors and exact color placement in glass work.

The literal translation of the word ‘pate-de-verre’ is ‘paste of glass’. Glass of different colors is ground to a consistency of sugar or slightly smoother or slightly rougher. These are called ‘frits’. These frits are used with a binder called gum Arabica and made into a paste. This paste is used for creating artistic pieces.

The first step is to make models. Usually wax is used to make the models. The model is then surrounded by plaster. This is termed as investment. When the investment sets the wax is melted away to form the negative mold. This negative mold is used to make the pate-de-verre objects... … read more

Rene Lalique was a Jeweler, born in 1860 in Aÿ-en-Champagne in France. He started his career from an early age of 16. His extreme enthusiasm and illustriousness soon made him an expert. He established his own establishment in Alsace, namely ‘Lalique factory’ in 1921.

He concentrated on jewel making in the beginning and was appreciated for bringing in a revolution in the jewelry making art. He had made exquisite jewelry for many celebrities and famed throughout France as ‘the inventor of modern jewelry’. In due course Lalique became a brand and represented the ultimate French Luxury.

He established many factories at various places but the Alsace Lalique factory is the only one of its kind now. It produces extremely beautiful lalique glass objects. Rene Lalique had derived inspiration from three important themes – women, flora and fauna. Even now the tradition is carried out by the lalique glass works.

The creation of lalique glass involves a long process comprising as many as 40 steps. It is lead based glass. The artisans pour molten glass into molds and when the mold is cooled the glass object is taken out. This is also known as ‘pressed glass’. It takes the expertise of several technicians who are specialized in various stages of glass making to complete a lalique glass art piece...… read more

The Daum Glass was a family concern that started in 1878. The interesting fact about Daum glass is that the family that owned the concern was neither glass blowers nor artists. They were hard core business men with extreme entrepreneurial skills. The founder Jean Daum was a notary from Bitchi. He was also a business man who had lent financial help to one of the glass factories, ‘Verrerie Sainte Catherine’, in Nancy, France.

Nancy was a town on the French- German border. After the French- German war the many French families who found themselves on the German territory shifted to the border town of Nancy. They were mostly business men. The Daum family was one of them.

When the owners of Verrerie Sainte Catherine were not able to repay their debt to Jean Daum, he took over the company in 1878. He named it ‘Verrerie de Nancy’. His two sons managed the factory with a lot of incredibly stringent economical measures.

Since these people were not artists, their first glass produces were not extraordinary. They were clear glass table ware with golden rims. But they were able to market the same with incredible dexterity that these items soon became noticed and still are collector’s items.

They hired some of the cleverest artists and designers like Henri Berge, Almaric Walter, Charles Schneider and Jacques Gruber to help them in designing their ware. These artists were not able to make a stamp of themselves on the articles. Instead, all the articles produced in the Daum concern were stamped ‘Daum Nancy’...… read more

Venice, the group of islands in the calm and magnificent Adriatic Sea, is often associated with beauty and romance. The beautiful cities and towns with buildings in water is a wonder for the whole world. For the same reason, it is one of the principal tourist hubs of Europe.

A tour through this scenic country will provide you with the experience of a life time. When you visit a country it is only natural to get gifts and souvenirs for your people at home. While buying presents is an integral part of tourism, it is often very difficult to choose gifts and presents which suit everybody. Here is an advisory which will help you to choose authentic Venetian gifts for various people.

Gifts for ladies

Authentic Murano Glass Necklaces

It is absolutely certain that you will have a few dear ladies to please. She may be your mother, wife, sister, daughter or girlfriend. Young ladies and teenage girls will be euphoric to have jewelry that accessorizes their dresses, especially party dresses.

The magnificent multi colored cascade necklace is a beauty. It is available in different colors and you can select the one, which you think, will suit her. The cascade of handmade Murano glass beads of different size will make her the center of attraction at any party.

The black and silver necklace
 with matching earrings is one of those ornaments that will fill your lady with ecstasy. It will shimmer around her neck snugly to lend her face a unique glow...… read more

Murano glass articles are extremely expensive items. They even valued above their prices, because of the unique tradition behind each of the Murano glass objects.

All glass articles are made by blowing molten glass and shaping them. Once broken, these cannot be repaired to its former splendor. One can only hope for a replacement. It is the same with Murano glass articles also. The works of the Murano glass artisans cannot be brought back to their original elegance, once they are cracked of broken.

But if the breakage is clean and the number of pieces is only two or three, you can attempt a glue fixing. To achieve this, you must look for a special glue used in sticking glass. This must be waterproof. At present the glue used for this purpose is E-6000. This is water proof. Even if it takes a long time to dry, it is worth it under the circumstance...… read more

The history of glass blowing has its beginning somewhere in the 1^st century BC. Then the art grew increasingly through the centuries that followed. In the beginning, glass blowing was done for producing utility articles. Throughout the time of the Roman supremacy, the glass blowers made mainly table ware, bottles, and vases. But from the time the Murano glass industry flourished, glass blowing grew into other dimensions. It began to acquire the characteristics of an art.

Murano glass masters are mainly responsible for giving glass art the present status as a difficult but much coveted art form. Many Universities 
and Art schools have included glass blowing in their curriculum. Many people take up glass blowing as a career on account of the great demand for glass blowers in various industries. They are often referred to as scientific blowers. But there are a lot others who consider it as a creative art. They create blown glass articles for museums and their own art galleries...… read more

Glass blowing is said to have originated in Syria, as early as the 1^st century AD. The blowpipe is the principal tool of a glass master. He dips it in the molten glass and blows through the pipe, which makes the molten glass to form a bubble like structure. This blown glass is handled by the assistant of the master, with a pair of flexible tongs called ‘borsella’. The red hot glass can be shaped using this tongs.

The Venetian glass was much admired by the world from very early times. The glass industry has its origin in Venice, in the 8^th century AD. The quality of the Venetian glass and the superior workmanship of the Venetian artists earned great name for Venetian glass artifacts all over the world. While glass furnaces thrived in the mainland of Venice, the city faced a new threat. The super hot furnaces were considered to be potential danger to the wooden buildings of Venice.

So the authorities found a way to isolate the glass furnaces from the main island. In 1291 the glass industry was shifted wholesale to the island of Murano. The authorities saw to it that the industry was isolated completely from the rest of the world. This was done with an intention of preserving the glass blowing techniques of Murano, thus maintaining the monopoly of Venice in the glass industry of the world...… read more

Galliano Ferro one of the greatest glass masters of the 20^th century founded the Vetreria Artistica Galliano Ferro in 1955. The aim of this great establishment was to reintroduce the classic splendor of Murano light fittings. Almost all the much celebrated designs of ancient Murano chandeliers were reproduced in this furnace without missing any of its antique grandeur. The declared motto of the furnace is “Galliano Ferro from renaissance to liberty style”. True to this motto, the company was and still is able to contribute substantially to the chandelier designs in general.

Galliano Ferro made it a point to use the traditional tools and furnaces to replicate the centuries old designs. The company had many of the greatest designers of the century in its creative force. People like Ezio Rizzetto and Vinicio Vianello were well-known in the glass art industry at that time. The presence of these and a few others like them was able to elevate Vetreria Artistica Galliano Ferro to the zenith.

Reproducing ancient designs was not the only agenda of the well-venerated team of glass experts in Vetreria Artistica Galliano Ferro. They also produced innumerable original and innovative designs in Light fixtures. There was a unique assimilation of antiquity and modernity in their designs, which fetched them much accolade in the world over.

Giorgio Ferro, the son of Galliano Ferro was the main designer in his father’s new concern from 1955. In 1972 he took the reins of the company and remained the principal designer. He produced many original designs drawing inspiration from the old masters. He created numerous modern designs of his own simultaneously.

In 2001, Giorgio Ferro’s son Alvis took over as the artistic head of the company. The Vetreria Artistica Galliano Ferro is now headed by Paola and Lisa Ferro...… read more

Murano glass industry is centuries old. Its antiquity is its uniqueness. The incredibly beautiful glass objects that are produced in Murano is a class of their own, as it is next to impossible to replicate them. While the Murano glass articles are greatly admired all over the world, the Murano glass animals are treasured by the collectors.

The Murano glass maestros have a unique skill in duplicating the animal world in the most meticulous way. Their candid postures often make these glass animals adorable. The minute details of their morphology are duplicated with great care and panache by the great masters of Murano. They use the traditional techniques like calcedonia, murrine etc. to fabricate these figurines, besides the clear glass miniatures...… read more

The Centuries old glass art of Murano Island is a subject of marvel throughout the world. The clarity of the glass, the amazing blowing and coloring techniques, unique shapes – every aspect of the Murano glass articles hold the world in awe.

The Murano glass artists have the art handed down to them by generations of dedicated glass blowers. The art had been nourished by the tireless efforts of innovators of each century and now the Murano glass products grace the very top position in the glass art industry.

Murano glass artisans are a set of extremely resourceful craftsmen who are bestowed with both skill and imagination. As a result, their creations swathe a wide range of subjects. You can find articles that can be used for a large number of occasions. They can be used as décor objects, table wares, and collectibles. This is why they are considered to be excellent gift articles.

There are Murano glass products which can be gifted to people of all ages and interests. There are articles which suit all genders. These articles are fit to be presents for all occasions, be it festivals or personal interests... … read more

Murano glass industry is an ever favorite attraction to tourists. A tour through the glass furnaces is often appreciated by the visitors. This December the Executive Service Network is organizing a showcasing program during the last two weeks of the year, named ‘Tra Sogno e Magia’ or ‘Between Dream & Magic’ to selected guests of Executive Service Network and the Miami based House of Murano...… read more

Gifts are more vociferous than words. That is why it is very important to know exactly what to gift the people who count the most in your life. Getting a gift from your sweet lady is as pleasurable as giving her one. But the opening of the package should give pleasure to the recipient. Imagine your beautiful lady opening her present to find something uninteresting! That will be the end of the world.But browsing through the on line gift shop of 1001shops.com will give you innumerable gift ideas that will suit the very special interests of your sweet heart. Our collection comprises articles that are suitable for people of all ages...… read more

Livio Seguso was born in 1930 in Murano. Like all the other renowned Murano glass artists, he was also interested in glass blowing and shaping from a very early age. The glass is a difficult medium to tame but most of the Murano-born glass artists took up the challenge of taming this medium and have recognized the unlimited possibilities of the medium.

Livio was not an exception. He started his career by acquiring an in-depth knowledge of glass. This was easy for him as Murano was a fertile ground that nourished anybody who is interested in glass architecture. Livio Seguso started his glass art career under the famous glass master, Alfredo Barbini. Having received a sound initial training, young Livio began to experiment with the medium to express unprecedented skill in the art... … read more

Lucio Bubacco is a name that is associated with innovative and original glass works of the current context in the history of glass architecture. He was born in the legendary island of Murano in the year 1957 as the son of Severino Bubacco, an expert glass master. The island of Murano has acquired legendary proportions in the glass industry because of the original techniques that are developed in the glass blowing industry.

Lucio Bubacco who was born in this island was naturally involved in shaping glass from a very early age. He began by making small animal figures that are incorporated into lamp works. He got a license for glass artists at the comparatively young age of 15. He got the fabulous opportunity of travelling a lot with his father. Their travel outside Murano gave him a chance to see and learn diverse approaches to glass from the experts in France and America.

It was not glass which received his creative efforts in the beginning. As a young artist, he went through a phase of working with other easier media like clay. But ultimately he returned to glass which is his ancestors’ medium and began to work wonders in it. He was able to understand glass because of his childhood haunts in the glass furnaces of his father’s contemporaries...… read more

Fabio Fornasier transformed the traditional Murano chandeliers into excellent works of art that emerged from the conventional structures to something ultramodern. He had a passion for experimentation with glass, which resulted in a new generation of chandeliers. Some of his innovative chandeliers use oil from vials for lighting. Later, Fornasier fitted them with low voltage bulbs. In both cases the chandeliers exhibited a unique elegance and class.

Fabio Fornasier was born in Venice on 16^th August 1963. He began to take an unusual interest in shaping glass from a very tender age. Watching his father Luigi Fornasier at work filled young Fabio with wonder. His only ambition was to be able to shape glass as expertly as his father. He pursued the art relentlessly and after many a frustrating effort he was able to tame glass according to his will...… read more

Davide Salvadore was born in 1953 in the glass island of Murano. He was born into a glass makering family, which provided him with ample opportunities to be associated with glass blowing from a very young age. His grandfather Antonio Salvadore was his inspiration in glass making. He mastered the techniques of kiln and furnace making also from his family’s furnaces.

His first real tryst with the glass blowing was when he joined the furnace of the famous glass master, Loredano Rosin. He worked with this team for four years. There after he worked with many small and big glass companies of Murano. The companies included the famous glass houses like Vennini, Barovier& Toso etc. This increased his expertise in the art.

In 1978 he began to make glass beads for his mother’s jewelry shop and got a chance to be associated with the fashion world. He began to work with many fashion-jewelry designers which earned him great name in the field...… read more

Lattimo glass is said to have existed from the time of Romans. Initially it was used for enamel works on gold and silver. But from the 15^th century, in 1450 to be exact, lattimo glass was produced by the artisans of Murano. It was created as an imitation to Chinese porcelain, which was imported to Venice from China. So the lattimo glass was also called ‘porcellano’.

The lattimo glass was produced by opaquing the clear glass with the help of lead and tin oxides. The molten form of the impure glass is treated with bleach and then to one of the many opaquing agents. The process gives a vibrant milky white color to the glass.

Besides the lead and tin oxides, lead and arsenic oxide or bone ashes also were used for matting clear glass... … read more

This glass art which provides an explosion of colors and exquisite designs on glass is an ancient one. It is said to have existed even 4000 years ago in the Middle East. However, it gained popularity when the Venetian glass blowers reinvented it in the 16th century.

The murrine is a name given to the cross section of glass rods containing mutlicolored designs that give them a magnificent look. There are three ways you can make these rods with designs in them. All of them are time consuming and laborious processes. But the beauty of the finished products makes it worth the while.

Mold

Using a pliable mold, the artist makes an image which he plans to put in the glass rod. This is the positive. Then this positive is covered with a heat resistant material to produce a mold. This mold is then filled with the molten glass of the required color. Thereafter it is heated in a furnace. The glass positive is then taken out and when it is still half molten, the positive is rolled in molten clear glass to fill all the gaps and form a rod. This rod is then stretched to the required thinness and sliced crosswise to make identical cross sections. These murrine can be used to make other glass articles like vases and vessels...… read more

The glass blowing industry of Venice is well-known from the 8^th century. The Roman occupation, the contact with the Byzantine art and connection w ith various countries in the East made Venetian glass artists experts in the field. Thus glass art thrived in the main land of Venice till the 13^th century and then threatened by the high temperature kilns of the glass furnaces, the whole industry was shifted lock, stock and barrel to the island of Murano, which is sufficiently away from the mainland.

Isolated from the rest of the world by a highly restrictive law, the glass blowing guild began to concentrate on their skills and through constant experimentation, evolved quite a few innovative techniques that contributed greatly to the glass art of the world.

Sommerso glass was one of those techniques that produced glass articles which were and still continues to be breathtakingly beautiful. The technique involves an authentic knowledge about various color combinations. It also involves an extremely high level of dexterity in glass blowing and layering...… read more

Antonio Salviati, a lawyer from Vicenza, made his dramatic entrance into the arena of Murano glass industry, in 1859. His concern about the near degradation of the mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica and keen enthusiasm for business made him divert from his original profession of a lawyer and turn to glass art. Since he was not well versed in the art of glassmaking, he decided to associate himself with some of the veteran glass artists of Murano. This happened just when the Murano glass industry was suffering a low patch during the 18th century.

Salviati got a star Murano glass artist in the person of Lorenzo Radi. Radi was a glass artisan who had invented a fabulous enamel mosaic technique. He also developed a method to apply them. Radi’s enamel mosaic was more colourful and extra durable. The duo established their first venture in 1859...… read more

Ferro Toso & C. is a glass manufacturing company which is actually started as early as 1880 by Francesco Ferro. The company was named Francesco Ferro & Figlio. The company functioned under this name till 1901. In 1901 Francesco Ferro died and Ferdinando Ferro joined with Luigi and Giovanni Toso and reorganized the company as Ferro Toso & C. 

During the World War I it was difficult to function in Murano. So the company was transferred to Naples during the time. In Naples it functioned under the name Vitrum Società Anonima Industrie Artistiche Riunite Ferro Toso. When the animosity developed during the World War was over, the company returned to Murano once again in 1918. Then the name of the company was changed to S.A.I.A.R. Ferro Toso & C.

Thereafter the company worked under this name till 1936. When Luigi Toso died in 1933, his three sons managed the concern. In 1936 Ercole Barovier joined the team and the company was turned into Ferro Toso Barovier Vetreria Artistiche Reunite S. In 1939 the company was reirganized as Barovier and Toso & C.

The company has a long and excellent tradition started by Francesco Toso. After the inception of the company in 1880, it started to produce glassware with a modern flare from 1895. In short, the company was one of the pioneers in the glass industry that brought modernity into the art...… read more

Cappellin Vennini &C was a famous Murano glass company founded by two illustrious gentlemen in 1921. Giacomo Cappellin was an art dealer who was born in Venice and Paolo Vennini was a lawyer from Milan. They founded the company with Vittorio Zecchin as the art director. The art director was a true muranese glass artist who believed in blending tradition with the contemporary trends. So the company started with an intention to keep the glass blowing traditions of Murano alive and flourishing. But unfortunately in 1925 the founders Cappellin and Vennini parted ways.

Giacomo Cappellin started a different art glass concern named MVM Cappellin & C. Vittorio Zecchin chose to stay with Cappellin as the art director. All the same, the company went bankrupt in 1932 and was closed down. Thereafter Cappellin shifted to Parris. There he manufactured perfume bottles. Giacomo Cappellin died in 1968...… read more

The island of Murano is famed for its legendary glass works. So any important event on the island is linked inevitably with glass works. The Murano glass blowing art gained momentum in the 13^th century when the glass works were shifted to the island of Murano to prevent the likelihood of fire accidents on the main island of Venice.

Murano lies in the Adriatic Sea, north of Venice, sufficiently far away from the mainland. Here the glass artisans were kept in complete isolation from the rest … read more

It was not for nothing the island of Murano is called the glass capital of the world. The superior-most glass art pieces were produced on the island for centuries. Most of the important families were and even now, are involved in this wonderful heritage art.

Luciano Vistosi took birth in one of those families that have been engaged in the art for a very long time. He was born into a glass blowing family of Murano in 1931. Like any other youngster in such families, he was absorbed into the family’s business from a very young age. That is how and where he had learned about the techniques and the nuances of the art.

After getting a rich know-how of glass blowing from his family, Luciano set out to make his own special mark in the world of glass art. He started to conduct intensive and extensive experiments with this not-so-easy-to-tame medium – glass. He paid special attention to the quality of glass he was working with. Nothing but the top quality glass found a place in his furnace. Being a left-hander, posed great difficulties for him, as almost all the existing tools were meant for right-handed workers. So Luciano had to make a few amendments to them to suit his style... … read more

Glass falls into different categories depending on its make, and qualities. It can have many combinations and so it does not have a fixed boiling or melting point. The main ingredient of glass is silica. Commercially, silica (sand), lime stone and soda ash are melted together in a furnace at an extremely high temperature of about 1700^o Celsius. It takes many days for the silica to melt and form a jelly like substance which is glass.

This glass is separated and processed according to the requirement. This processing produces different types of glass. These categories of glass vary in their composition and properties. The basic use of glass is to provide transparency. But in the modern contexts glass is used for decoration, solar control, acoustics, security and architecture. Utensil manufacture is another use of glass...… read more

Pino Signoretto who was born in 1944, in the small Venetian town of Favaro Veneto is one of the stars of modern Murano glass art. He started his glass blowing training very early in his life. In 1954 he entered the glass blowing furnace as an apprentice to a chandelier maker. From then on Pino Signoretto’s great career in glass art went on to great heights, earning him great name and fame.

Signoretto joined great masters like Alfredo Barbini and Livio Seguso very early inhiscareer. From these iconic masters Pino Signoretto acquired immense skill and techniques. For him, the period from 1956 to 1978 was the time of experimentation and gaining expertise under great glass maestros. In 1978 he was confident enough to open his own establishment in Murano.

He is an expert in shaping molten glass when it is still hot. The people who have experienced watching him at work say that it is a pleasure to watch him shaping glass with great dexterity and flair. The specialty of Signoretto glass lies in the fact that it assimilats the art and architecture of a number of world renowned artists like Dal Pezzo, Pomodoro and Vitali. This gives the Signoretto pieces great style and aesthetic value...… read more

The history of Murano glass began, when the industry was shifted from the main land to the small Island of Murano in 1291. The glass artisans enjoyed great privileges during those days. Several families were engaged in the ancient art. The innovative spirit in the Murano artisans soon produced unique varieties of glass art.

Seguso was one of the earliest families that distinguished themselves in the excellent art of glass blowing and glass craft. They were named among the reckonable glass dynasties from 1397 onwards. They owned one of the largest furnaces in Murano. The family produced some of the most unique glass art pieces which have earned them an esteemed position in the world of glass art. Currently their products adorn quite a number of museums of consequence all over the world. The family’s name appears in the ‘Libro d’Oro’ or The Golden book of Murano.

For centuries, the family has been engaged in producing ‘objets d'art’ for the royalties all over the world. Their artistic work has graced even the Pope’s abode. Besides these, Seguso glass has been included in the components of the décor schemes of many word famous spaces and interiors...… read more

Dino Marten, born in the year 1894, was an Italian artist of excellent prowess in painting and designing. He presented his paintings in the Venice biennale from 1924 to 1930. His paintings diverted from traditional ones and exhibited a character of their own. He learned his art from Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia.

In 1939 he joined the Auriliano Toso glass works. Here he was able to express his art using the very difficult medium of glass. He worked as a designer in Auriliano Toso till 1960. During these years he combined his artistic vision with the age-old glass blowing know-how of the Murano maestros. He was able to give a new dimension to murano glass designs.

His works were mostly to do with vases and small vessels. His work consisted of polychromatic designs. He experimented with the aventurine technique with copper and gold flakes. Zanfirico was another Murano technique which was given a new face by Dino Marten. The created unique murrines and fused the same with his characteristic vases...… read more

Venetian glass is admired all over the world for its delicate perfection and incredible color schemes. The art of glass blowing existed in Venice long before the 10^th century. When the high temperatures of the glass furnaces posed a threat to the predominantly wood-crafted buildings of Venice, the authorities decided to shift the whole industry to the island of Murano in the Venetian lagoon.

Isolated from the rest of the world by destiny or design the glass maestros experimented with the designs and pigmentation and invented quite a few stunning and complex techniques which earned name and fame for the island of Murano and its glass art...… read more

History

The history of Murano glass industry starts in 1291, when the glass blowing industry was shifted wholesale to the small island of Murano in the Venetian lagoon, away from the main land of Venice. There, isolated from the rest of the world, the art flourished to an incredible level. The master glass artists devoted their time and energy solely to the techniques of glass art and invented techniques that produced hitherto non-existent and spectacular glass objects.

Zebrati

Four years after the shifting of the industry to the island of Murano, in 1295 a master glassblower named Jacobellus Barovier founded the Barovier glass works. They were specialized in high quality Venetian glass. The glass blowing techniques were constantly subjected to research and experiments under him...… read more

Luigi Benzoni is a Venetian artist. He was born in the Province of Bergamo in 1956. He moved to Venice at a very young age. By 1976 he was able to start his business in Venice. He had studied architecture and specialized in the history of art. This inspired him to experiment with various media of art.

He started the exhibition of his work in Venice and abroad in the first half of the 70s. He had started his career as an artist who used oil paint as his medium. Later he started experimenting with glass, porcelain and even bronze. Most importantly he was able to combine his painting skills and sculpting skills to produce incredibly novel structures...… read more

Murano glass articles are valued globally, as much for its iconic value as for its excellent features and expert craftsmanship. The Murano glass artisans create a variety of products. They include chandeliers, sculptures, jewelry, goblets and vases. They find a supreme place in the collections of hobbyists all over the world.

If you own some of these fabulous glass articles, it is vital that you know how to take care of them and clean them periodically to preserve their original brilliance.

Cleaning Murano glass chandeliers

The Venetian artisans produced fabulous chandeliers and exported them to other countries from 10^th century onwards. When the glass blowing industry got shifted to the island of Murano, it acquired newer dimensions and began to expand. The chandeliers produced by the Murano artisans were incredibly elaborate and perfect in minute details.

If you own a Murano glass chandelier, you know how elaborate they are. The delicately formed and dangled pieces are magnificent in every detail. When you attempt cleaning it, you will have to be careful not to cause the pieces rub against each other. This may cause scratches on the pieces and the optical clarity will be compromised.… read more

• The authentic Murano glass articles contain 18 – 24 karat gold and sterling silver and they will be mentioned in the product description. This means you can be sure the article is genuine.

• Once you are satisfied with the labels and the like, you may inspect the article itself and the other articles displayed by the dealer. The Murano glass is made of quality glass and it will usually possess a luminosity that comes from within. Inspect the similar articles. If they are Murano articles they will be slightly different from one another. As the Murano articles are individually blown, no two articles resemble in all respects.

• The colors and lines on the genuine Murano articles will be vivid and rich. The Murano glass artisans are meticulous in crafting the minutest details of the articles. The imperfections in the features will show you that it is not a Murano piece.

• As the Murano glass articles are individually blown, they will have a mark at the bottom of the product. This mark is called ‘pontil mark’. This is made by the rod which is used by the artisans to hold the articles while he shapes it. This is a sure sign that the article is hand blown... … read more

On entering the famous Berengo Studio in Venice, you get the shock of your life, when you see an exquisite blood red murano glass chandelier lying shattered on the floor and some stuffed ravens picking on the debris. Then you glance around the studio to see a bunch of unconventional shapes around you. It finally dawns on you that somebody is trying to convey a message through this shattered chandelier. That somebody is Adriano Berengo, the founder of the Berengo fine arts. He is conveying the unmistakable message that the Murano glass art is going to resurrect from the ashes (debris) of this shattered chandelier which symbolizes the near extinction of the art.

Venice is a country which has occupied an important position in the map of the world from the 8^th century as the center of incredibly artistic glass works. From the 13^th century its fame soared to unprecedented heights due to the Island of Murano, which was exclusively allotted to the glass blowing industry. The murano glass arts flourished through the centuries that followed. Going through a number of ups and downs, by the end of 20^th century, murano glass industry began to suffer...… read more

Lucio Bubacco is the son of Murano in all its senses. He was born in 1957 in Murano as the son of a proficient glass blower. This means that he was involved in murano glass works almost from birth. He travelled extensively with his father and every journey was a expedition through the superior glass art of the world as well as that of Murano.

He started his glass works as a boy with another old glass blower. Playing with glass, he began to craft small articles like animals. But his work was always inspired by the anatomy of his subject. At the age of 14 he completed a work using the ‘Lume’ technique. The uniqueness of his work was that he was inspired by some of the old world artistic ideas from the Greek, Byzantine arts.

He was greatly influenced by the renaissance art also. But whatever he made exhibited an unparalleled anatomic excellence. Human body held his fascination beyond measure. Together with it, he was influenced by the fantastic world presented by the Hellenic civilization and other civilizations before Christ. As a result, his creations contained an abundance of fantastic beings, angels, devils and gods...… read more

The Nason Moretti glass works was founded in 1925 by the Nason brothers. Their aim was to produce top quality tableware and home accessories. The Moretti family joined the firm in 1950s. Both families were engaged in glass blowing for years. It was a merger of excellent skills of two master traditions. Carl Moretti’s works are exhibited in some of the important glass museums of the world.

In 1955 Umberto Nason took up a novel project of producing special kinds of bowls and glassware. This fetched the prestigious Golden Compass Award for the establishment. Thus Nason Moretti glassware became world famous

Nason Moretti is a highly esteemed name in the Italian glassware. They produce a wide range of drinking glasses. Their products include both stemmed-ware and drinking glasses without stems.

The unique style of the hand blown glass ware betrays an expertise which is perfected through centuries. They make these glass objects using the traditional Murano techniques. Since they are blown individually, they are incredibly delicate and light...… read more

Murano glass articles are the favorites of collectors all over the world. But it is important for the collectible to be a true Murano glass piece. There are a few furnaces that are authorized by the Veneto Regional Law to use the certifying mark. Fornace Mian is one of them.

This Murano glass industry is a 20^th century addition to the Murano glass blowing tradition. It was established by Alfio Mian in 1962. He was a master in the art and very much dedicated to the traditional art of Murano. He started the furnace in a very small way, with two artisans. But the dedication of these men and their commitment to the art soon gained their establishment name and fame...… read more

This is a family owned business. The main production is Jewelry for women. The beads are hand-made. The expertise of the artists makes these beads excellent specimens. The entire Jewelry making – from the making of beads to crafting jewelry from them – is supervised by the family.

The innovative designs are evolved but the glass work is essentially rooted in the age-old Murano tradition. The designs of Esse2 are original and extremely creative.… read more

Venini Murano Glass Company was founded in the beginning of the 20^th century by a lawyer from Milan, Paolo Venini and an antique dealer, Giacomo Cappellin from Venice. The company was established in 1921 with Vittorio Zacchin, a painter, as the art director. The company was named Cappellin Venini &C.

But in 1925, a difference of opinion between the founders led to the withdrawal of Cappellin from the association. So Venini re-established the company as Venini & C. in 1925. After a minor set-back in the beginning, Venini was successful in setting up his organization admirably. The design department of the firm was backed up by many design kings like Napoleon Martinuzzi, Tommaso Buzzi and others.… read more

Italy being the abode of the Pope, the head of Roman Catholicism, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ with great religious fervor. The celebration starts eight days before Christmas with special Novenas in churches. Virgin Mary is greatly revered and songs are sung in the homes of carpenters to honor St. Joseph. The Italians avoid meat for 24 hours before Christmas to purify their bodies before Christmas. They are that religious! 

December 8^th, which is celebrated as the Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, marks the onset of the Italian Christmas celebrations. The streets and the houses are decorated and the Christmas markets turn up all over the country.… read more

Murano is a beautiful island off cost Venice. It is nicknamed as the glass capital of the world because of the wonderful glass creations by the artisans of the island. All their celebrations are naturally, connected with glass blowing and glass architecture. Christmas is no exception. The people of Murano celebrate their age old tradition of glass art during Christmas. The festivities include glass articles in most of its stages.

St. Nicholas Day or Natale di Vetro

C hristmas starts in Murano with the St. Nicholas day. St. Nicholas, being the patron saint of the glass blowers, is highly venerated by the Muranese population. So a special mass is conducted in his name at the Chiesa di San Pietro Martire. The St. Nicholas Day is also called Natale di Vetro or Glass Christmas. As the name indicates, this is the day on which the glass artists of Murano display their glass architecture skills to the natives and tourists alike. They all get together to present an impressive exhibition of Glass works...… read more

The Italian Christmas is special in its simple and sober nature. While everywhere else in the world, Christmas is a time for feverish commercial activities, Italy celebrates its Christmas in a highly religious way. It is a time for prayer, get-togethers, gift exchanges and most importantly Nativity scenes or ‘presepe’.

The Christmas celebrations start in Italy from 8^th December, which is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The construction of nativity scenes starts from then on. Unlike the usual nativity scenes all over the world, Italian nativity scenes incorporate all the possible day-to-day life scenes in the nativity. Apart from the holy family, magi, shepherds and their cattle, all the natural scenes like fields, houses etc. are also included. The nativity is sometimes arranged in a tall pyramid form. The upper shelves will be occupied by gifts and other decorations.… read more

Fratelli Toso was founded by six brothers, as a glass blowing furnace of small stature in 1854. At that time, they concentrated more on trivial things like pharmacy jars. That was the age when Murano glass industry had suffered greatly through the Napoleonic war and the fall of the Venetian republic. So it was a time the industry was in the process of recuperation. 

Many traditional Murano glass techniques were lost during this period. It was Abbot Vencenzo Zanetti who had helped the brothers to re-invent some of the old techniques of the island. So Fratelli Toso began their 150+ years of glass blowing journey in style, by producing a magnificent chandelier for the Museo del Vetro of Murano. Thereafter, the company announced their indelible presence in the scenario, by taking part in all the prestigious glass exhibitions and shows...… read more

Arte di Murano was the brain child of a young entrepreneur, Alphonso Morgillo, who was vastly influenced by the ancient glass blowing culture of Murano. He also serves as the current president of the company. 

He was committed to carry on the fabulous glass tradition of Murano in its original splendor and started the company as a production center for chandeliers. But a highly effective corporate business culture speeded up the development of the company. Now the company produces all sorts of exquisite glass objects like vases, mirrors, glass sculptures, fancy goods and table wares, besides producing classic and designer light fixtures. 

The use of high quality materials to manufacture excellent quality goods has made the Arte di Murano pieces highly popular all over the world. The entire glass components of the articles are manually made by glass maestros who have their roots in the thousand year old tradition of Murano glass blowing. Their expertise is evident in every Arte di Murano articles.… read more

Autumn is a wonderful season. While spring is celebrated as the colorful season, you cannot ignore the vibrant colors of the autumn. Even if yellow and orange are more associated with autumn, there are a lot many shades of red, blue and green appear in the autumn. Nature is often embellished with myriads of colors.

Murano artists are great aestheticists. They observe nature closely to enhance their work with the wonderful colors and images from nature. As a result, every category of their work reflects nature in all its glory.… read more

With the holidays fast approaching you must be incessantly thinking and planning for suitable gifts for various people in your lives. It is not easy to choose the best suited presents for everyone. You can take a few tips from us in that case. The 1001shops is at your service. We have a whole lot of gift items that will suit your purpose without a hitch.

Music boxes that enhance the merry mood of Christmas and New Year

The music boxes are small handy containers that can be used to hold jewelry mainly, and alternatively souvenirs and keepsakes. These are beautifully polished and inlaid boxes that produce music when opened. It will be a pleasure for the recipient to open the gift with a soft tune.… read more

Existing Murano glass furnaces are very few in number. One may have a reasonable doubt if the art is slowly getting extinct. But once in a while one is pleasantly surprised when a new furnace takes shape and gets into business.

When in 1984, the master glass blower Alberto Mattiello decided to establish a furnace of his own, it denoted a revival of the ancient glass art of Murano. Alberto was interested in the art at a very small age. He started working on glass when he was just eleven years old.

He started the glass blowing work in 1984 with the name Vetreria Artistica Biemmeci. The glass objects produced in the company was characterized by their lightness and exquisite designs. Mattiello was successful in combining the antique tradition of Murano glass works with modern designs and ideas.

… read more

Veteria Artistica Galliano Ferro is a furnace that produces mostly light fixtures and lighting accessories. The establishment was founded by Giorgio Iron in 1955. They produce the glass objects in the same old Murano tradition. The produces are blown individually by master craftsmen who are trained in the original Murano tradition. The specialty of these glass objects is that they are hand crafted without using molds.

This accounts for their unique and perfect shapes. Each piece is blown and shaped with utmost care. This method renders the articles a unique elegance and perfection. These artisans take extreme care to use the same kind of furnaces and tools that were used centuries ago by the master craftsmen of Murano.

In 1972 Galliano Ferro took over the business and followed the footsteps of his father in glass making. He had been working in the furnace as a designer during his father’s time. But when he took over from his father, he concentrated on the production of light fixtures that combined the old traditional style with modern designs. He created a number of very original designs that earned him name and fame all over the world.… read more

Murano glass items are collector’s favorites. But only authentic items are prized in a collection. So as a collector you will do well if you are able to collect authentic murano items. This is particularly significant because the market is flooded with cheap, mass produced counterfeit murano articles made in China or Brazil.
The first thing you have to bear in mind is that murano glass is that wonderfully brilliant glass articles produced in the Island of Murano using traditional techniques of glass blowing. There is a difference between ‘Murano Glass’ and Murano-style Glass’. The latter is an imitation article produced elsewhere, but not in Murano.
Expert collectors are of opinion that even if there are many methods to distinguish the authentic murano products, the best way is to invest considerable time going about seeing and handling the murano articles and you will be able to recognize them instinctively. However the following tips will help the beginners. … read more

The artistic glassware Effe is the brain child of Walter Furlan who is one of the master glass craftsmen who have lived and worked in the glass Island of Murano. He has learned the art of taming the extremely difficult medium called glass to produce incredibly beautiful and artistic glass pieces.

At a very young age he started his work with glass. He started his career with great glass maestros of 50s and 60s. With them he learned the art of blowing, shaping and designing glass articles. His commitment and dedication to the age-old art soon made him a master in crafting delicate and very elaborately designed chandeliers. In short he was considered to be the ‘first master of chandeliers.… read more

The maestro of modern Calcedonia Art Dino Rosin was born in Venice on May 30^th 1948. The child was destined to continue the tradition of the great Murano glass art. So, when he was just two months old, the family shifted to Murano, the glass blowing capital of the world.

The boy Dino left school for good, when he was 12 years old to follow his interest. At first he joined the then famous glass blowing furnace of Barovier and Toso as an apprentice. Then in 1963 he left the furnace to join his brothers Loredano and Mirko. There he learned his basic lessons in Calcedonia work.… read more

Murano art glass is something made in the Island of Murano using the unique techniques developed by the indigenous Murano artisans. The history of the Murano glasses begin from the latter half of the 13^th century when the glass workers and their extremely hot work shops were shifted wholesale to the Island of Murano, for fear of fire accidents in the Venetian cities.… read more

Murano Island in Venice is the glass capital of the world. The glass art that has originated on the Island of Murano is inimitable. You can make glass articles in the Murano style but it does not become Murano glass. The technique of this is the special heritage of this island and they jealously guarded the secret through centuries. Even if, by the 18^th century some of the techniques were leaked out by mercenaries, the original techniques of the art are still intact with the Muranese.… read more

When we go down the history lane of the Venetian glass making, we see its recorded origin sometime during the 8^th century. As years went by, Venice became an important trade center in the Mediterranean area. They had trade relationships with many countries and glass making was already advanced in some of the Arabian and North African countries along the Mediterranean coast, especially Constantinople.… read more

Invitation to Dance - Villa Pamphili is a yearly festival dedicated to dance and dancers. The Magnificent garden around Villa Pamphili is the venue for this unique program every year. This is a picturesque 17^th century villa with spectacular landscaped gardens. The landscaped garden of Villa Pamphili is a magnificent example of medieval architecture and aesthetics. The garden provides surprises and pleasure to the visitors with its many statues, fountains and cascades. They are all artistically arranged to allure the strictest critiques of art and architecture.… read more

Festa de Noantri is a beautiful folk festival which has deep religious undertones. It has a fascinating legend attached to it. This festival is about parading a statue of Mother Mary along the numerous streets of Trastevere, a district across the River Tiber and an 8-day festival thereafter.… read more

The heavenly island of Murano lies in the Venetian Lagoon, in the north of Venice. It is closely connected with the capital island, both physically and historically. As the history says, the glass workers of Murano had come from Venice in the 13^th century. They were shifted wholesale to this island to avoid the hazards posed by their extremely hot glass furnaces.

Here, they were given special status and privileges and they and their profession flourished to such an extent that Murano became the glass capital of the world. It was their staple source of income for centuries. Glass industry is still a source of income to Muranese but … read more

The unique Murano Glass articles are much celebrated the world over as collectibles and gift items. The centuries of traditional expertise honed with the contemporary design ideas makes the Murano glass articles world’s finest pieces of art.

Murano Glass sculptures

The Murano artisans are skilled in making all kinds of sculptures. Their sculptures often bring miniature world on to your tables and show cases. All the aspects of life are replicated by these superlative workmen with mind-boggling clarity of the minutest details. … read more

The island of Murano is famed for its legendary glass works. So any important event on the island is linked inevitably with glass works. The Murano glass blowing art gained momentum in the 13^th century when the glass works were shifted to the island of Murano to prevent the likelihood of fire accidents on the main island of Venice.

Murano lies in the Adriatic Sea, north of Venice, sufficiently far away from the mainland. Here the glass artisans were kept in complete isolation from the rest … read more

Murano is a group of seven small islands in the Adriatic Sea, north of Venice. It is divided from the main land of Venice by a wide lagoon. These islands were occupied by the Romans as early as 5^th century. That is when the cultural back ground of the island is set. After the Romans many other groups came to occupy the island. The most important of them were the Camaldolese monks who came to inhabit the island in the 11^th century. … read more

Murano is a group of seven small islands separated by eight lagoons. It is in the Adriatic Sea in the northern side of Venice. These islands are recorded to have been Roman settlements in the 5^th century. In the following century it was occupied by inhabitants from Altinum and Orderzo.

The History of Murano says that the island served as a fishing port in the ancient times and its economy depended mainly on fishing and salt production. Later it became a center of trade. The island prospered until 11^th century. During the 11^th century the islanders began to shift to Dorsoduro, one of the six sestiere (district) of Venice. … read more

Murano art glass is renowned for its unique manufacturing techniques. These techniques were once the monopoly of the traditional artisans of Murano Island. Murano is a group of islands in the Adriatic Sea, north of Venice.

The Murano Island has gone through quite a number of dramatic phases throughout its history. The once quite unassuming group of islands, which used to be a fishing harbor and trade center, suddenly transformed into a busy and affluent place by the coming of the glass making guild onto the island in 1291. … read more 

Almost 10 years ago, when we decided to add Murano Glass to our business portfolio, we thought would be a good idea to see what exactly we would like to offer to our clients’ base, so we decided to visit Murano Island, Italy. When we landed at the Marco Polo International Airport, the scenes that awaited us were simply breathtaking. The beautiful weather and the city comfortably relaxing in soft sunlight was a sight to see. After the airport formalities we procured a guide for us and started our exploration of Venice. … read more

Love is the emotion that sustains mankind. When it is of the romantic sort, it is all the more valuable. It is an emotion that is fragile in many respects but extremely solid when felt alike by the two people involved. What will represent such an emotion more than the exotic Murano glass articles and figurines? Impress your partner with a Murano glass gift on the Valentine’s Day this year.

Birds are aerial creatures that are free and un-obsessed. If you want to impress your lover with your all inclusive love, you should think of presenting him or her with a pair of beautiful Murano glass birds. The two parrots sitting on the crystal clear glass perches striking the most romantic pose, when put together, will warm … read more

Renaissance of the Murano Traditions

1920S AND 30S

Italian glassworks always have been working with the artists who had been trained as painters, sculptors, and architects. Experienced Murano glass maestros always were trying to translate their artistic designs into the glass objects. Back in 1920s the Venini Company was one of the renaissance leaders of the Murano glass with the help of such famous designers as Carlo Scarpa (1906-78), who developed advanced glass processing and creating techniques became know in all parts of the world.