Fatto a mano - Venetian Glassblowers

Mention Venetian glass and you might first recall the clutter of kitsch ornaments your Great Aunt Dorothy used to proudly display on her mantelpiece. But there is much more to this craft than the creation of peacock-blue gondolas or gaudy pink flamenco dancers. Venetian glass has long been famous throughout the world, and the small island of Murano, only a mile from the centre of Venice, became the world centre of the craft after it moved to the island from Venice at the end of the 13th century. Some say this move was for safety reasons after many fires had destroyed the city’s wooden houses, while others consider that the new location made it easier to closely guard the secret skills of the trade.

The techniques of glassmaking were carried to the Venetian Lagoon by Syrian craftsmen and early traders from the East centuries before.
Glassmaking flourished under the Romans, and by the time of the move to Murano it had become an important industry, with the Venetian Lagoon as its centre. The secrets and skills of the glassmakers were so prized that it was a treachery punishable by mutilation or death for a skilled artisan to try and leave the Venetian state. The profession enjoyed huge respect and privileges, such as the right to bear swords, marry into noble families and have immunity from prosecution under the strict laws of the Venetian state. Murano held a monopoly on mirror and glassmaking until the 17th century, by which time the secrets of the trade had leaked out and workshops appeared in Bohemia, France and England.

The ancient skills have changed very little over the years and can be seen all over the island today in numerous workshops. Some of these
are sophisticated companies that have been established for generations and which still send finely-crafted glass ornaments to smart shops all over the world. Names like Barovier have been linked to the art of glassmaking for over 500 years, and the showroom of Barovier & Toso on Murano’s Grand Canal is a testament to the skills of the craft.

A tough apprenticeship

Glassblowers typically work through an apprenticeship of over 10 years before they are accepted as craftsmen. Many, like the contemporary
master of glass, Gianni Seguso, learnt these skills from their fathers when only children, following a tradition going back centuries.
Seguso achieved the revered title ‘Maestro Vetraio’ (Master Glassblower) at the age of just 18. What distinguishes such masters of the art is their tireless experimentation with different types of glass, and the classic Italian flair for producing timeless classical designs.