Murano vase, around 1600, Hermitage MuseumDecorated bowl from Murano, c. 1870
Venetian glass (Italian: vetro veneziano) is glassware made in Venice, typically on the island of Murano near the city. Traditionally it is made with a soda–lime "metal" and is typically elaborately decorated, with various "hot" glass-forming techniques, as well as gilding, enamel, or engraving. Production has been concentrated on the Venetian island of Murano since the 13th century. Today Murano is known for its art glass, but it has a long history of innovations in glassmaking in addition to its artistic fame—and was Europe's major center for luxury glass from the High Middle Ages to the Italian Renaissance. During the 15th century, Murano glassmakers created cristallo—which was almost transparent and considered the finest glass in the world. Murano glassmakers also developed a white-colored glass (milk glass called lattimo) that looked like porcelain. They later became Europe's finest makers of mirrors.
During the Early Middle Ages, Venice was originally controlled by the Eastern Roman Empire before eventually becoming an independent city state. It flourished as a trading center and seaport in the High Middle Ages. Its connections with the Middle East helped its glassmakers gain additional skills, as glassmaking was more advanced in areas such as Syria and Egypt. Although Venetian glassmaking in factories existed as far back as the eighth century, it became concentrated in Murano by law beginning in 1291: since glass factories often caught fire, this removed much of the possibility of a major fire disaster for the city. Venetian glassmakers developed secret recipes and methods for making glass, and the concentration of Venice's glassmaking on the island of Murano enabled better control of those secrets.
Murano became Europe's luxury glassmaking center, peaking in popularity in the 15th and 16th centuries. Venice's dominance in trade along the Mediterranean created a wealthy merchant class that was a strong connoisseur of the arts. This helped establish demand for art glass and more innovations. The spread of glassmaking talent in Europe eventually diminished the importance of Venice and its Murano glassmakers. The occupation and dissolution of the Venetian state by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797 caused more hardship for Murano's glassmaking industry. Murano glassmaking began a revival in the 1920s. Today, Murano and Venice are tourist attractions, and Murano is home to numerous glass factories and a few individual artists' studios. Its Museo del Vetro (Glass Museum) in the Palazzo Giustinian contains displays on the history of glassmaking as well as glass samples ranging from Egyptian times through the present day.
Venetianglass (Italian: vetro veneziano) is glassware made in Venice, typically on the island of Murano near the city. Traditionally it is made with a...
of glass to new heights with the use of stained glass windows as a major architectural and decorative element. Glass from Murano, in the Venetian Lagoon...
Enamelled glass or painted glass is glass which has been decorated with vitreous enamel (powdered glass, usually mixed with a binder) and then fired to...
glassmakers to move their furnaces to Murano in 1291. Murano glass is still associated with Venetianglass. Murano's glassmakers were soon numbered among the island's...
around 1450, Angelo Barovier invented "crystalline glass" (vetro cristallino) or "Venetianglass" (cristallo di Venezia), improving on the previous process...
started in the 16th century, initially mostly in Venetianglass, then later in Germany and Bohemian glass. From about 1645 it was used in the Netherlands...
Republic of Venice (Italian: Repubblica di Venezia; Venetian: Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic, traditionally known as La Serenissima, was...
Magic: Complete Guide to VenetianGlass, its History and Artists (Schiffer, 2004). ISBN 978-0-7643-1946-4. "VenetianGlass Beads Found in Arctic Alaska...
Indians began remains elusive. It was reported in February 2022 that Venetianglass trade beads had been found at three prehistoric Eskimo sites in Alaska...
used this word to apply to all of his glass, enamel and pottery. "Tiffany's favrile glass vases were based on Venetian glassmaking techniques mixed with ancient...
Murano beads are intricate glass beads influenced by Venetianglass artists. Since 1291, Murano glassmakers have refined technologies for producing beads...
Attractions". VenetianGlass Info. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011. "Museo del Vetro: Layout and collections". Glass Museum...
Seguso is known for its high end Venetianglass objects, lighting, accessories and custom installations. Seguso glass has been made for the Pope, Royalty...
were illuminated by hanging candelabra and chandeliers with shade of Venetianglass. The pillars and roofs are decorated with golden mouldings and other...
1496), was a Venetianglass artist. She was the daughter of the glass artist Angelo Barovièr of Murano, inventor of the cristallo glass. Marietta Barovier...
under European influence by the end of the Middle Ages, with imports of Venetianglass documented by the late 15th century. It rarely has religious content...
Castle following the battle. Legend has it that Henry VI left behind a Venetianglass bowl as a token of gratitude, known as the "Luck of Muncaster", ensuring...
background composed of small flowers Venetian beads Trade beads for the use of millefiori beads in the slave trade Glass museums and galleries Murrine "Millefiori...
Hermonia Vivarini (16th-century), was a Venetianglass artist. She was born to the glass artist Alvise Vivarini of Murano. On 22 May 1521, she was granted...
Elena de Laudo (fl. 1445), was a Venetianglass artist. She belonged to a glass painter family of Murano, and is noted to have painted blanks delivered...
glass in the Venetian tradition was also being produced in England. In about 1675, George Ravenscroft invented lead crystal glass, with cut glass becoming...
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