The first beads produced in Venice date back to this century, and for hundres of years beads constituted traded and exported commodity to Africa, the Americas and India. The conterie tiny glass beads are documented in Murano starting from this period: monochrome, very small, they are manufactured from thin pierced glass sticks, and they are suitable for embroidery and a variety of compositions. Venice takes an undisputed leading role in glass art, aided by the decline of Islamic production.
The invention of crystal glass by Murano born Angelo Barovier contributed to venetian supremacy: thanks to the same silicon base, but a higher percentage of lead oxide, glass became for the first time transparent, similar to crystal, and the products created were so refined as to meet the demands of extremely wealthy clients.
At the end of the century a woman, Maria Barovier daughter of Angelo , created what has become the symbol of trade beads, as well as the most known and imitated in the world: the Rosetta, otherwise known as Chevreon bead. These beads come from pierced glass stick made up, like murrine, of several polychrome layers - seven in this case - the overlapping of which results in a star-shaped bead, which is then cut in pieces and bevelled. Maria Barovier gives rise to a sort of revolution in the way glass beads are manufactured; since then, glass beadmaking in Venice became a female craft, combining working spaces with those of domestic life, given that, in most cases, beads were produced in women's homes.
Lampwork beads date back to this century: they were processed by the flame of a lamp powered by animal fat, and a bellows allowed to add oxygen to the flame to reach the temperatures necessary to melt the glass. An unpierced glass stick was poured over a metallic wire constantly rotated, allowing infinite variations in additions, decorations and colors. These venetian beads, too, were used as "trade beads".
The provision that forbid glassworks in Venice was never imposed on beadmakers, because the amount of fire required did not constitute a risk for the fragile city, thus for centuries lampworkers were located in Venice.
During Murano's crisis in the 19th century, bead production was the only one to still thrive and expand, keeping up trading activities until the early s. Lampworking reached its technical and aesthetic pinnacle during this period, and bead manufacturing absorbed most of this activity's workforce. At the end of the First World War, trade beads, replaced by money, lost its original function and became more and more sophisticated with the use of gold and silver leaves.
Fiorato, Sommerso, Mosaico are a few of the names of these small glass masterpieces, in fashion since the beginning of the 20th century, and known all over the world. Jewelry Expand submenu Shop Collapse submenu Shop. About Expand submenu About Collapse submenu About. I cannot wait until my pieces arrive!
Currently we cannot suggest anyone but we are looking to start carrying Murano Glass flowers in the near future. My Aunt gave me 2 Murano glass bracelets, one white with flowers and the other brown or caramel in color with flowers.
I need to get them repaired. I live near Chicago. Dear Patricia, thank you for contacting GlassOfVenice. I love the Murano glass beads and jewelry. Even the Venetian glass is beautiful. I have a few pieces and wear them with pride. Please will you send me information on these.
It is such along time since i bought them. Someone has offered to buy them but I dont know if I can part with them. I will wait your reply. Ann Russell. Hi Ann, Vincenzo Nason is a famous master who worked on Murano for Venini company and then opened his own glass workshop on Murano island in In his company was renamed to V. When making the glass they mix it with other minerals which gives it its funky colours and vibrant designs. The resulting liquid glass mixture is then mouth-blown and then handcrafted by master glassmakers in a series of elaborate steps.
They used tools to mould, shape and polish the glass to create unique and beautiful designs. For this reason, high-end Murano Glass is called art glass. The typical Murano glass is made of silica and requires great accuracy! Using silica, soda, lime and potassium glassmakers will begin to heat up the elements so they melt together.
They do this in a special furnace at a temperature of degrees Celcius, until it reaches a liquid state. Very thin layers of real gold or sterling silver are then added to the glass mixture also known as gold or silver leaf , along with various minerals to give the glass its vibrant colours and designs.
For example, copper is used for Avventurina mineral-like sparkles, zinc is added for white colour, cobalt for blue, manganese for violet and gold for red. The resulting liquid glass mixture is then mouth-blown done by blowing air through a long tube and hand-crafted by master glassmakers in a series of elaborate steps using special techniques such as Millefiori, Sommerso, Reticello, Filligrana, Bullicante, and many others.
No bare hands are involved there. Most of the tools used have were developed in the Middle Ages, and both these and the glass-blowing process have barely changed since then.
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