Murano glass

What is Murano glass?

Glassmaking is one of the most complex crafts in the world. Master glassmakers have spent years working on various techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. When you think of Murano glass, sand doesn't immediately spring to mind, yet it is the basis of all Murano glass production. The glass is made from a mixture of silica sand, soda, lime and potassium, which is melted in a special furnace at a temperature of around 2,700 degrees. Once the mixture has become flexible, it is removed from the furnace using a hose. The glass is blown through the pipe while the glassmaker shapes and forms it. The shape and colour depend on the tools and chemicals used. Murano glass is therefore purely handmade, which makes the product even more special.

The history

In 1921, all the glassblowers living in Venice were ordered to move to Murano. The glass furnaces in Venice were causing devastating fires. Murano, a group of seven small neighbouring islands linked by bridges, was closed. This measure protected the town and the crafts, which had to remain exclusive to Murano. In 1295, a law even forbade glassblowers from leaving the island. Despite this, they were treated as the island's most eminent citizens and enjoyed a high social status and lifestyle. This isolation allowed the craft to evolve, with many innovations and new techniques. In the 17th century, Murano glass entered a period of decline, due to Napoleon's conquest of Venice in 1797 and the abolition of all the guilds. By 1820, only five furnaces were still producing glass. Over the following decades, the industry recovered and new glass companies were created.

The Murano salesman at Whoppah recounts:

"In 1990, I visited Murano for the first time. The beauty of Murano glass art touched me so much at the time that the collection became an addiction. Walking around the island about four times a year, I get to know the people. I go behind the scenes with famous glass artists and talk to them about glass art and techniques, as well as Italian cuisine. The best-known glassmakers are Venini, Barovier & Toso, Barbini, Toffolo, Segusto (since 1397), Signoretto, Tagliapietra, Nason, Zanetti, Cenedese and Ferro. They all master the various glassmaking techniques, including tessuto, rubino, filigrana, pulegoso, incalmo and somerso. If you want to buy Murano glass, there is some mediocre glass in circulation, much of it from China. It is also sometimes falsely signed and dated. How do you know if you're buying quality glass? Read books on glass. In Heiremans' books on Murano glass, there are examples of signatures and labels used on the back".