The Art Of Italian Glasswork

The Art Of Italian Glasswork - Past, Present, And Future

Government rules concerning glassmakers came in to existence starting in the 12th century, but it wasn't until 1271 that the Capitulare de Fiolaris, the first statutes about the art of glassmaking were created. In 1292 a city ordinance that changed Venetian glassmaking forever. Because glasswork studios had become the common cause of municipal fires (in fact the Great Fire Of London is commonly believed to have started in a glassworks studio), the city of Venice banned the opening of new glassmaking houses in the city limits. In effect, glassmaking was banned to Murano…an island located in the Venetian lagoon. This had the added effect of keeping Italian glassmaking secrets from getting out to the rest of the world.

While the word Murano soon became synonymous with glasswork, working on Murano essentially became a banishment from the rest of the world…glassworkers were forbidden to teach trade secrets to outsiders and those who attempted to leave were threatened with the death penalty. During this time period, Murano glass makers were the only artisans in Europe who made mirrors. Recipe books were created and adapted over generations, and held the secrets to such Murano specialties as cristallo and lattimo glasswork. Cristallo glass is a perfectly clear glass that is easily moldable when hot, but also cools very quickly…allowing it to be used in intricate, paper-thin designs. Lattimo glass is an opaque milk glass that was often fused with cristallo glass to make lace-like patterns and decorative finishes.

Murano made glass reigned supreme up until the 18th century when the heavier lead-based English glass became very fashionable among the art-collecting elite. However, during the latter half of the 19th century, Italian glass manufacturer Antonio Salviati was instrumental in re-establishing the world's interest in exquisite Italian glass. Murano was slow to join the Contemporary Art Glass movement, but by the 1930s artisans were moving towards richer colors, cleaner lines, and more opaque glass making techniques.

Lampwork glass artists all over the world prefer working with Italian glass rods over any other. Millefiori glass rods produced in the Effetre factory in Italy, and sold under the name "Moretti Glass", remain one of the most popular ways to add exquisite, colorful detailing to handmade glass beads.

The Island of Murano is still a home base for the creation of glass artistry and is currently remains a tourist destination, where you can visit the glass studios, watch demonstrations, and purchase your own piece of history!

Further Reading:

• Italian Glass By Leslie Pina
• Murano Magic By Carl Gable
• Making Glass Beads By Cindy Jenkins

By Faith Harper