A guide to original Murano glass
Not everybody knows that Murano is just a place. Murano is the island lying few hundred meters away from Venice, where all of the furnaces producing glass were transferred in 1295 by decree of the Republic of Venice, to prevent fires in the city. In the global era, even Murano...
Murano: The Essential Art Glass
Why investing in fine arte made in Murano is a good choice Venetian glass is renowned all over the world for its exquisite and timeless beauty. The very heart of Venetian glassmaking can be found on the island of Murano, where this ancient craft has been honed and perfected since...
Make sure it's authentic Murano Glass
"How do I recognise authentic Murano Glass?" . "Is this authentic Murano Glass?" . We often get asked those questions and have already dealt with this subject in the article « A Guide to original Murano Glass » or even in our FAQs page . But we want to start...
Regata Storica
Every year the Regata Storica takes place in the Canal Grande the first Sunday of September. The historical regatta takes place primarily along the Grand Canal and is one of the most spectacular, picturesque and moving events of Venetian life. It is an event much appreciated by many tourists, but...
A reborn Museum in Murano
Spaces and exhibition offer doubled, now also temporary exhibitions available The project involved both the historic halls of Palazzo Giustinian (where the Museum is housed from 1861), and an area of the former factory of glass beads adjacent the museum garden. The tale of a great history: the history of...
Enameling on Murano glass
A domain peculiar to Murano is decoration with enameling: of Bizantine origines, developed in Murano during the 13th Century, it then bloomed in the early Renaissance. See how the renowed art of Muranese enameling is performed on glass in this mesmerising video: Pubblicazione di Albertini Spezzamonte .
Murano in space
As you probably know, the Italian astronaut Captain Samantha Cristoforetti is participating in a mission on the International Space Station. On 28 th January she took a wonderful photo of Venice and its lagoon as seen from space. This image - famous all over the world - moved all us...
MuranoNet on TK Magazine
e are so proud to have collaborated with the gorgeous TK - Tasting Kitchen magazine based in Hong Kong! Read the interview to the maestro Igor Balbi by Jessie Tirsch and see some beautiful artworks in Murano glass. All the products on those pages are available on muranonet.com . Click...
Bruno Bischofberger's Art Collection
Finnish vases are the passion of great art dealer Bruno Bischofberger who’s showcasing his rich collection from this April in Venice. It is know as one of the greatest art dealers of the twentieth Century, the man who’s brought Andy Warhol and Basquiat in Europe and represented David Salle and...
Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel
Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel The palace was erected between 1473 and 1479 for Nicolò Soranzo with material recovered from an ancient palace of the Gradenigo. Particular glimpses of the adjacent church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the coincidence of the construction period make it probable that Nicolò Soranzo will...
The Glass Industry in Venice Carves Space for the next generation
The Glass Industry in Venice Carves Space for the next generation The first time Thomas Stearns attempted to have his glass vessels made, he was unceremoniously thrown out of the Venetian studio by an enraged and insulted master. Ignoring the traditional craft’sprescription for symmetry and balance, his soulful, organic vessels...
Visiting Venice in quite an original way
“At the end of January 1980, on the streets of Paris, I followed a man whom I lost sight of a few minutes later in the crowd. That very evening, quite by chance, he was introduced to me at an opening. During the course of our conversation, he told me...
What is Murano? The Complete Guide to Murano Glass
The 10 things you should know before buying a Murano glass artwork Murano glass is famous all over the world for its beauty and uniqueness . It’s got an ancient heritage and it comes only from Murano island and Venice . Even if imitation can be considered as a form...
3 SIMPLES SECRETS TO MEMORABLE WEDDING FAVORS
A Favor is an expression of love. Is the best way to demonstrate your guest how much you appreciate being with you. Don’t leave it at the end in the ‘To do List. 1. Be practical Leave out all the useless wedding favors. Free your guest to the guilty of...
Murano vs Chinese glass - the true story
Today we are led to think that Chinese glass production is limited to approximate copies of Occidental art glass. The truth is that artistic glass has been worked in China long before Western influences arrived. The beads, amulets and funeral ornaments produced in the ancient Cina shows that the glass...
An incredible project to save a centenarian Chandelier
It's done. In Murano the restoration of the precious glass chandelier - that in 2012 suffered the damage of the earthquake in Emilia Romagna - has been completed. 4 meters tall, 3 meters wide at the base, this glittering giant consists of 1182 pieces, half of which were destroyed in...
Festa del Redentore
One of the most popular festivals in Venice since 1577 The Festa del Redentore is a popular festival held in Venice every third Saturday of July. It combines a religious theme with a spectacular firework display: the St. Mark's basin hosts a firework display that lights up the roofs, domes...
Santas Regatta
Regatta of Santas in Venice on 21th December 2014. Last Sunday we had in Venice the traditional Christmas regatta: forty boats in the waters of the Canal Grande and two hundred rowers, brightened the day of tourists and residents. The initiative has been organised by all the Venetian rowing Clubs....
It's the Most wonderful time of the year
To celebrate the festive season, we have created a playlist of songs. So, stop dashing around and start by pouring yourself some fine Italian wine in a Murano glass ( here our recommendations ). And don’t forget candlelights ( see here a nice selection of candle holders ). Christmas is...
In Glass We Trust
We have recently met again Igor Balbi and had a few words with the maestro about his new project: a contemporary art glass exhibition. Here's what we have learned. In Glass we trust is a scream, a manifesto against the recent drifts that are carrying outside Murano and Venice glass...
“A Lume” glass by Mauro Vianello
Murano glass Museum 25th June – 23rd October The lampwork technique is an ancient Muranese art that, as of today, has achieved a unique and universally recognized technical excellence. The importance of this particular process is the subject of a technological and teaching lesson at the Murano glass Museum: it...
Avventurine - Massimo Nordio
Author: Attila Dorigato Paperback: 80 pages Publisher: Arsenale Editrice (July 26, 2006) Language: English ISBN-10: 8877432586 ISBN-13: 978-8877432582 Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.4 x 9.6 inches Over the last few years, glass designer and collector Massimo Nordio 's attention has gradually turned almost exclusively to a historically fascinating type of...
Murano Glass Museum
Author: Attila Dorigato Paperback: 96 pages Publisher: Edizioni Electa (December 1986) Language: English ISBN-10: 8843520431 ISBN-13: 978-8843520435 Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.3 x 9.4 inches Buy on: Ebay
Murano: Island of Glass
Author: Attila Dorigato Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Arsenale Editrice; 2 edition (May 16, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 8877433868 ISBN-13: 978-8877433862 Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 1 x 11.1 inches Buy on: Ebay Amazon
The Colours of Murano in the XIX Century
Author: Reino Lie Bova, Aldo, Rossella Junck, Puccio Migliaccio (ed.); Attilia Dorigato Paperback Publisher: Arsenale + Junck / Antiques collectors' Club, Venezia (1999) ASIN: B001T657TI Buy on: Ebay
Breakfast in Venice: Tips and Bar Reviews
There's nothing better than having a cappuccino and a croissant for breakfast. But where can you eat a delicious Italian breakfast in Venice ? Have a look at http://breakfastinvenice.wordpress.com/ : with its detailed descriptions and reviews on bars and pastries around the town, it will help you making the right...
Murano glass at "I Saloni 2013" international trade-fair
The Promovetro consortium is coordinating some associated companies (such as Formia International) that are participating to I Saloni 2013 . This international benchmark lighting, design and furniture sector exhibition , with its exhaustive range of top quality goods, has become the established point of reference for the design world ....
How does Venice work? Dive in an virtual Venice tour
Venice is undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man, a wonderful place to visit. But it's also a town where people live, work, study. Have you ever wondered how the canals were formed? What's under the buildings ? Why there's the acqua alta? How has Venice developed from desolate...
MuranoNet on The Times!
Thanks to one of our British friends, we’ve found an article talking about us ! It was January 31st 2004 and journalist Virginia Blackburn wrote on The Times “ The magic of Murano glass ”, an interesting article about the connection between the unique beauty of Murano glass and the...
New shipping costs
Big News! We have revised the shipping costs . Now they are lower and buying from MuranoNet is even cheaper ! And there's more: for some countries there are entirely new dedicated conditions. So, check on the complete list down below. Remember, you can simulate the purchase to estimate the...
The 55th Venice Biennale: novelties and great expectations
Venice Biennale, a must see. It will begin on June 1st and it will end on November 24th: the 55th Venice Biennale will take place at the Giardini, Arsenale and various places in the town. The Biennale carries the weight of 120 years of history - from that April 19th...
Venetian Glass by Carlo Scarpa: The Venini Company, 1932-1947
The art of Murano glassmaking is going to move to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It’s a project of the Giorgio Cini Foundation and Pentagram Stiftung, whose exhibition " Le Stanze del Vetro " has been so popular with audience and critics, that it will be moved...
Paperweights: the history of a fine Murano glass work of art
The history of Murano glass paperweights started, incredibly, thousands of years ago. It seems that paperweights were born almost by accident: at the end of the day, the glassworkers of the furnace instead of throwing away scraps of coloured glass, decided to join them in bulk in the molten glass....
Costume jewellery made in Murano
The typical trait of Murano has always been glassworks and glass production, which flooded the markets of costume jewellery but also of luxury products, or even everyday items such as bottles, glass plates and lead glass, exported then throughout Europe. But if the luxury products are famous, what about the...
The Breath of Glass - Il soffio del vetro
After years of restoration, the Venetian Chamber of Commerce is opening again. For this important occasion it will held «The Breath of Glass» an exhibition organised by the Promovetro Consortium Murano . Visitors will admire products of the most important craftmanship that is still alive in Venice and the surrounding...
Brunetti's Venice
Dear readers, you probably already know the adventures of Guido Brunetti, the commissario in the stunning procedural series written by Donna Leon, set in the beautiful Venice. Today we wold like to highlight two interesting books. The first is " Brunetti's Venice ", a guide of Venice: an original and...
Loud Listening - Through the Sound of Murano Glass
The voices of artists, noises of ovens, sounds of glass rods, shouting of masters whilst glass is transformed and comes to life: all the magical world of Muranese glass production sites will be transposed into music thanks to a project called "Loud listening - through the sound of Murano glass"...
How beautiful shapes come from a fascinating processing
Today we share with you this vintage video from the '80s. It is still interesting because the ancient Muranese techniques have remained unchanged over the centuries. The video shows the complexity in glass processing, how the various elements are fused together, how the shape is given, featuring important names: Lino...
The Timelessness of Traditions: Murano Glass and Venetian Art Tourism
As millions of tourists flock to Italy each year to discover the heart of the Renaissance art world and the magnificent eras surrounding it, so do the passionate craftspeople and artists who are seeking the inspiration to heighten their creativity and refine their techniques. Rooted in the cultural legacy of...
The Gondola
The gondola certainly is the best known Italian boat and one of the most famous in the world. The construction secrets of this icon of the Venetian Lagoon have been handed down from generation to generation in the boatyards of the town. A town, Venice, with a long tradition of...
MuranoNet on co-Trip magazine
We are very delighted and proud: MuranoNet and MuranoVitrum have been featured in the Japanes travel guidebook "co-Trip, lovely goods in Europe"! They have interviewed Gianni Angi - the co-owner and CEO of MuranoNet and MuranoVitrum - this February and the travelguide has just been published in Japan. As you...
Murano Glass Masters 2014 - L'Isola del Vetro
Saturday 12 th and Sunday 13 th July 2014 in Murano don't miss the first "Murano Glass Masters 2014 - The isle of Glass". The Murano Glass Museum - with the exhibition "The enchantment of glass" (L'incanto del vetro), a selection of the most valuable artworks made by the Promovetro...
The rosebud legend
The writer Alberto Toso Fei, and artist Elena Tagliapietra, both from Venice, will give life - on April 25 th in St. Marco Square at 2pm - to the fifth edition of "Venice Revealed", a two-year project of reading and body painting. This year a "human rose" composed of 1200...
Murano Prize 2014
The Scuola Abate Zanetti is sponsoring also this year the Murano Prize, a Venetian historic event that honors the art of Murano glass. The award, back in 2012 after a 21 years hiatus, is organized to enrich the artistic tradition of Murano glass and its experimentation, to provide a meeting...
Murano glass aquariums
Have you ever wanted an aquarium, with lots of tropical fishes in your livingroom? Just to adorn a corner of the room, reproducing a small piece of nature on a fine piece of forniture. Well, having an aquarium in your own home is a symbol of good taste and elegance...
Murano glass mirrors
Mirrors are not only functional but also works of art thanks to their frames and decorations. They also make a room appear larger and brighter. They can even be used to create some fantastic pieces of furniture. But how has it all began? Nowadays Murano glass mirrors are based upon...
A.V.E.M.
Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM) emerged from the liquidation of Successori Andrea Rioda in November 1931. In 1932 a group of master glassblowers decided to open a new glass factory, A.V.E.M. The founding partner were Antonio Ferro with his sons Egidio and Ottone, Galliano Ferro and Emilio Nason. The first products, mostly...
C.V.M. - Compagnia Venezia Murano
The company was founded in 1877 and is mainly concerned with the sale not only of glasswares but also of furniture, bronzes, marbles ad luxury items in general. It has imported from the most European countries, dealing with the most prestigious firms, including the great names of French glass, Galle' and Daum....
Frères Daum
Very well known as the frères Daum glass factory, this firm has been recently renamed Cristalleries de Nancy. It was established in Nancy in 1875 by Jean Daum. His sons Jean Louis Auguste and Jean-Antonine made glassware in the "Art Nouveau" style similar to those of Émile Gallé : very...
Fratelli Toso
One of the oldest glass factories on the island, already open in 1854, the firm was mostly typical at first for its production of classic blown glass and, in the early years of 20th century, for vases executed with the murrine technique. Between 1910 and 1914 an important event was...
Vetreria Franchetti
Franchetti, Raimondo (Vetreria Veneziana Barone Raimondo Franchetti) Murano, Venice, Italy (1826 - ? ) a.k.a. Cristalleria Franchetti. Mainly industrial glass, some cut & engraved crystal services. Supplied Italian Royal Navy with services, lamps, globes & lenses (1892). Alfredo Barbini trained here (c 1930) Vetreria Franchetti
Fucina degli Angeli
This began as an artist's cooperative in 1950, Centro Studi Pittori Arte del Vetro , set up by Egidio Costantini , Fioravante Seibezzi , Armando Tonello , Gino Krayer , Mario Carraro , Aldo Bergamini , and others, with the intent of having permanent place of business and showroom in...
I.V.A.M.
Founded in the early 20s at Fondamenta Navagero by Libero Vitali , the glass factory had a short but intense life, from both a technical and an artistical viewpoint, for the influence that its productions would have in the future Murano panorama. In the mid 20s the furnace cooperated with...
I.V.R. Mazzega
The exact starting date of the glasswork cannot be established. According to Esperia Mazzega. Daughter of Romano, it goes back to the early 30s. In 1937 Romano sold the firm to Aureliano Toso and the following year, together with his brothers Gino and Maria, he established the F.lli Mazzega After...
Loetz
Glassworks that has established in 1836 at Klostermeuhle in Bohemia, by Eisensteine. In 1840 Johann Loetz purchased it, and when he died, his wife Suzanne took over. In 1870 his grandson, mAx Ritter Von Spaun expanded procuction both in quantity and quality, and exported throughout the world. During the decade...
M.V.M. Cappellin & Co.
Giacomo Cappellin , an antique dealer in Venice, Paolo Venini , a lawyer in Milan: this, to say, the least, unusual alliance on the Murano scene, began in 1921 to mark the revival of glassmaking art in Italy. Initially, the partners should have been three, to include Andrea Rioda ,...
Ceramiche Lenci
Ceramics factory established in 1928 by Elena Scavini and her husband, in charge of the artistic direction to this day. Production has strictly modern taste. Over the years they have reached a numbers of awards at both italian and foreign exhibitions. In 1929 they showed their creations at the Sambuco...
Pauly & Co.
We often get contacted for news of this glorious ateler. Unfortunately the company after being renamed Miva Srl went bankrupt on 26 April 2016.Since its foundation (1866), Pauly & C. has stood for elegance, creativity and Venetian luxury. The ancient Roman technique known as “murrine”, which today is the symbol...
Orrefors Glasbruk
Swedish glassworks specialized in the manufacture of cheap glasswares. Founded in 1898, it was acquired in 1913 by Johan Ekman who improved the quality of production thamks to the cooperation of artists such as Simon Gate after 1916 and Edward Hald after 1917, both pupils of the maestro Knut Berqvist....
S.A.L.I.R. - Studio Ars Labor Industrie Riunite
Founded in 1923 by Giuseppe D'Alpaos , Decio Toso and Guglielmo Barbini . Its specialities were glass engraving, sandblasting, enamel and engraving application of gold leaf. In 1927 the firm began cooperating with Balsamo Stella and Franz Pelzel who, after a two years stay in Florence, opened their own laboratory...
S.A.I.A.R. Ferro-Toso & Co
The firm started in 1895 and produced the first known objects having a "modern" taste, a series of murrine vases, executed on the design of the Swedish artist Anna Akerdhal, wife of the graphic artist Guido Balsamo Stella; that items were exhibited in 1920 at the Exhibition of the Italian...
Salviati & Co.
In 1866 Antonio Salviati, a lawyer from Vicenza (Italy), in cooperation with some English financing partners, constituted the Vetreria Salviati & Co. The firm took the english name of The Venice and Murano Glass and Mosaic Company and divided its activities into two clearly distinct parts: blown glass on one...
Seguso Vetri d'Arte
In 1933 a group of master glassblowers who had left the Barovier & Co . firm decided to open its own glass factory, making the begnnings of the Artistica Soffieria e Vetreria Barovier Seguso Ferro. Production was constituted by encased blown glass, stylized figurines, animals and cactus plants, vaguely in...
V.A.M.S.A.
The V.A.M.S.A. firm Vetreria Artistica Muranese Societa' Anonima founded in 1925 by Augusto Hreglivh under the name of S.A.V.A.M. Societa' anonima Vetri Artistici Murano, produced blown glass of classic type. In 1936 it was transformed into V.A.M.S.A. (Vetreria Artistica Muranese Societa' Anonima) and had Alfredo Barbini among its partners, in...
Vetreria Vistosi
Vistosi family represents one of the oldest dynasties of Murano glassblowers; their origins go back to the XVIII century. In 1945 Guglielmo Vistosi opened his furnace, taking with him some really innovative concepts both at the design and at the production level. Fascinated by industrial design, he attempted to put...
Vetreria Zecchin Martinuzzi
The firm Zecchin Martinuzzi Vetri Artistici e Mosaici was founded in 1932 by the sculptor Napoleone Martinuzzi and by the engineer Francesco Zecchin, both of whom had worked at Venini's, where Martinuzzi had held the art director position until 1926. Production was at once characterized away from the other Murano...
Zanetti Vetreria Artistica
Zanetti Vetreria Artistica was founded in 1956 by the glass master Oscar Zanetti (nickname: Saor) and his son Licio. The furnace quickly distinguished it self for the artistic quality of master Licio Zanetti's glass sculptures, and soon took its place among the most prestigious companies on Murano. In 1989 master...
Vetrofusione at the Piero Ragazzi atelier
The history of Murano glass boasts a very long list of techniques that have improved and evolved over the centuries. One of the most recent techniques dates back to the 1930s and is the vetrofusione. Glass melting is a technique used to join pieces of glass by partially melting them:...
Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro
Each furnace has its jealously guarded secrets. In addition to the manufacturing processes, the companies also carefully store the recipes for composing the glass mixtures. The Stazione Sperimentale was born after the war (in 1956 and since 2000 scientific laboratories also in Marghera) The station was established at the same...
Venini & C.
The firm started in 1925 after the split from the Cappellin-Venini & Co. Company: the art director was Napoleone Martinuzzi . At first he followed the lines of Vittorio Zecchin , but he soon departed from these themes and developed an original style of his own, closely linked with his...