A handmade crystal bracelet for Girlie Girls who enjoy the “wearing of the green” even when it’s not Saint Patrick’s
Day, has arrived. Though the hearts aren’t Irish – they’re Italian Murano glass, they are beautiful shades of green, which have been
artfully arranged with Swarovski crystals and New Jade beads.
What Girlie Girl wouldn’t enjoy wearing a handmade crystal bracelet with green Murano hearts year round? Isn’t time you made your friends a little green with envy on your good taste in custom handcrafted jewelry? Why not place your order today for this amazing handmade crystal bracelet and start getting those looks of envy today?
The origin of Murano glass is interesting because it is the longest ongoing center for glass making in history. It spans from the 9th century to today and is full of beautiful and innovative artwork. The glass artisans of the island have had astonishing success, failures and thankfully, a remarkable resiliency in the face of adversity.
First for readers uncertain of where Murano lies, it is a small island North West of the city of Venice, Italy - not much larger than a few square miles.
It is believed the origins of Murano Glass dates back to 9th century Rome, with significant Asian and Muslim influences, as Venice was a major trading port. Multihued pearls and glass beads were used in trading with Asian, African and Muslim neighbors.
The first known historical document describes Domenico, a maestro (glass blowing master) who created fiole (bottles). Other equally rare documents describe Pietro Fiolario working with glass in 1083 and Giovanni Fiolario as a maestro making bottles in 1158.
In 1291, the Maggior Consiglio (Venetian government) decreed that all the glass furnaces had to be moved from the city of Venice proper onto the island of Murano, because of the fire hazard to a city built of wood. More politically astute observers note that the consolidation of all glassblowers on a small island allowed the government to better oversee and manage its monopoly on the profitable industry.
Realizing that the glassblower's secret techniques were prestigious and one of the underpinnings of the local economy, the Republic further tightened its control by issuing an edict forbidding glassblowers to practice their craft in other countries. They couldn’t leave and if they tried, there was the possibility of having their hands cut-off by the “secret police” - very harsh consequences indeed.
However, the close eye kept on Murano and its artists had unforeseen positive consequences. By artificially concentrating the entire glass blowing industry on a small island, it inadvertently intensified the level of competition between maestri; as a result the quality of glass was dramatically refined, and new techniques and ideas rapidly disseminated throughout the island.
Over the years, the island has seen its fortunes grow and diminish, furnaces shuttered and its artists scattered throughout Europe. This reversal of fortune lingered until the 1860's, when Vincenzo Zanetti developed the Glass Museum of Murano, (in reality more of a school than a museum) and slowly began reintroducing lost glass blowing techniques.
One of the pivotal players in the modern Murano era is Paolo Venini. An unlikely candidate, an attorney with no experience in glassblowing, he was known for his willingness to collaborate with others in diverse fields, especially from the world of architecture. One of his greatest contributions to Murano in the 20th century was developing upcoming artists. The list of artists his company mentored over the years reads like a who's who of the modern Venetian art world.
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!
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