History of Murano Glass in Italy

Venitian Glass in Italy

Documents dating back to the 10th century note Venetian Fioleri, or bottle-makers, who produced glass bottles and vials. In 1224, the first trade association for glassblowers was formed in Venice. A government mandate in the late 12th century led all Venetian glass production to move to the island of Murano. Today, the Venitian island of Murano is world-renowned for its elaborate glass creations. 

Quick History of Glass in Murano, Italy

Glass production in the Venetian lagoon goes back as early as the 10th century. However, the Venitian island of Murano is specifically world-renowned for its elaborate glass creations. But why is Murano glass special? The funny thing is that all glass production in Venice moved to Murano by 1291 due to a government mandate.

This move was likely mandated likely for two reasons. The first was that the extremely hot furnaces used by glassmakers were a major fire risk for the densely-populated city of Venice. By moving furnaces across the lagoon, officials hoped to protect the city from potentially catastrophic fires.

The second, perhaps more substantial, was to protect trade secrets. Venetian glassmakers essentially had a monopoly on European glass production, so government officials wanted to ensure that other countries wouldn’t steal their techniques.

This meant that glassmakers were not allowed to travel outside the Republic, nor were foreign glassmakers allowed inside. Eventually, however, the secrets got out, and by the 16th century, when Venice had declined as a commercial power, glassmakers in other European countries were producing work in the Venetian style.

Glassworkers in Murano suffered another blow when Napoleon conquered Venice and abolished its guilds in 1797. And in the early 19th century, the Habsburg empire, which then ruled Venice, raised prices on importing raw materials and exporting glassware.

Fratelli Toso Venetian Glassmaking Revival

In 1854, six brothers—the Toso family—breathed new life into the industry when they opened Fratelli Toso, a firm specializing in traditional Venetian glassmaking techniques. An exhibition in 1864, along with international trade shows, renewed interest in the work produced in Murano, making it a destination for art lovers.

Murano Glass Special Techniques
Cristallo, Millefiori, Murine, Latticino, and Avventurina Methods

Master craftsman Angelo Barovier perfected a process for producing Cristallo, clear glass, in the 15th century, which paved the way for glassworkers’ innovative drinking glasses in the 16th and 17th centuries. These glasses often featured intricately-detailed symmetrical wings on either side of the stem. 

Venitian Mirrors
The Lattimo process and "gold dust" technique

Venetian glassmakers of the early 16th century were also renowned for their mirrors. Most of these were custom-made for nobility and became a luxury found in palaces across Europe. Because the demand for the gorgeous glass mirrors exceeded the supply, other glassmakers began to produce replicas. Still, Venetian mirrors, the purest mirrors in the world, set the bar very high for the other mirror manufacturers. 

Venetian mirrors were considered so exquisite because of the highly protected manufacturing processes developed by the Murano glass artisans. One process was the "gold dust" technique of embedding gold leaf into the mirror before the glass solidified. The other was the Lattimo process that produced translucent milky-white glass. Through masterful manipulation of both techniques, elements like the etchings of flowers and ribbons and the artful borders are possible.