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Murano

The reputation of Murano as centre of great glass makers started in 1291, when the Republic of Venice ordered the glassmakers of the city to move their foundries to Murano island. The point was to prevent the burning of buildings in the city, since most houses and buildings were made out of wood. At the end of the 16th century, three thousand out of seven thousand inhabitants on the island of Murano were involved in the glass industry.

For centuries, the glassmakers of Murano have been known for the quality of their products, and for the continuous development of techniques, such as the use of crystal or enamelled glass, the creation of items with golden threads (avventurine), the employment of multicolored (millefiori) or milky (lattimo) glass, and even the imitation of precious stones with glass. Today, the artisans of Murano still use these old techniques for the creation of contemporary art glass items.

In Murano there are both factories producing glassware for the mass marketing, and little workshops creating unique pieces. Palazzo Giustiniani in Venice hosts the Glass Museum, whose exhibitions tell the history of glass starting from ancient Egypt. 

Murano glass items have been produced in large quantities between the ‘50s and ‘60s for export and for tourism. Some of the historical glass factories in Murano are well-known brands, including Venini, Salviati, Barovier & Toso, Pauly & c., FerroMurano, Seguso, and many others. The oldest glass factory, still operating, is the Antica Vetreria Fratelli Toso, founded in 1854.

 

 

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