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History of Murano Glass

Also during the 30's Ermanno Toso changed the direction of Fratelli Toso, which had been founded in 1854 by his ancestors, from one of creating traditional Muranese objects to one of one of more modern tastes. Again, war threatened the glass masters in the 40's but the industry managed to survive World War II and emerged post- war with pent up artistic energy, making the 1950's some of the most creative and innovative years the island of Murano have ever seen. The filigrana technique was expanded and used to new effect by another Murano master, Archimede Seguso, who opened his own shop, Vetreria Archimede Seguso, in 1946. Today, the works created during this time are considered the most desirable by collectors.

Artists including Dino Martens, who brought traditional Venetian techniques to America, Flavio Poli and Fulvio Bianconi all began making unique, non-traditional works to express their creativity. Since the 1950's the mastros in Venice have collaborated with artists worldwide, including Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore and Jean Cocteau in addition to serving as a mentors to artists who started the American Studio Glass movement. A recent challenge to the Venetian glassblowers in the marketplace has been counterfeiting. Beginning in the 1990's and continuing today, many of the classic vases, glassware and millefiore objects are being counterfeited in Asia, for sale overseas.

In September 2002, in response to this growing problem, Promovetro, the glassmaker's consortium registered a Murano trademark with the European Union. The mark, a lilac colored sticker with a glassmaker's cana de soffio (blowpipe) and the Italian inscription "Artistic Glass Murano" is printed on a film that is difficult to replicate or counterfeit.

In another recent development, on February 14, 2003, the city of Venice unveiled the new trademark for the city, created by French designer Mathieu Thibautto as seen above. The future of the Murano is as bright as ever. Continual innovation coupled with a renewed emphasis on collaboration with artists worldwide will serve the island well, allowing the maestro's to flourish and establish the 21st century as another "Golden Age" of Murano glass!

Additional References

American Craft Museum A great museum that often showcases Venetian Glass.

Boglewood- An excellent reference with descriptions and timelines for all of the well known and lesser known Murano Glass artists and furnaces. Includes general information on travel to Venice and has helpful family trees to better explain the complicated family structures.

Corning Museum of Glass One of our favorite museums, dedicated to the art, history and exhibition of glassmaking. CMOG houses more than 35,000 pieces of glass from around the world, from historical to avante garde.

Promoventro The official Murano Glass promotion association in Venice.

Recommended Books :

Venetian Glass- Marino Barovier, David Revere McFadden, Yoichi Ohira. A compilation of essays of the history and future of Venetian Glass with many color illustrations.

Dino Martens: Muranese Glass Designer- Catalog of Work by Marc Heiremans and Dino Martens.

The Colours of Murano in XIX Century-Aldo Bova, Puccio Migliaccio, Rossella Junck.

Murano Glass (1910-1970): Theme and Variations-Marc Heiremans.

Chihuly- Donald B. Kuspit, Dale Chihuly.

Handmade in Italy- John Fero Simms.

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