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About Murano Glass
By the end of the 13th century, the Venetian authorities instructed glassmakers who mastered the craft of this special kind of glassmaking to relocate the majority of their work studios onto the Isle of Murano. The main reason behind this exile was the high risk of conflagrations associated with the extreme temperatures generated during the production of the glass. Considering at that time wood was the main material used in the construction of Venetian buildings, it was imperative that the danger of fire be eliminated. To a point, the glassmakers’ migration to Murano Island proved beneficial for all the parties involved, with the master artisans rapidly growing into a community popular on the Island and recognized as an important pillar of all the Italian trade. However, with time the glassmakers were being gradually deprived by many of their liberties. Seeing Italy’s economy and reputation thriving thanks to the craft of Murano glassmaking and fearing that the secret of the glassmaking could have easily transpired had the artisans been allowed to commute between the Island and the outside world, the Italian authorities effected stringent measures in the effort of keeping the glassmakers in place. Murano glass is produced by heating a silicate glass under extreme temperatures until it turns into a liquid. When it reaches the desired consistency, the molten glass is combined with different chemicals that modify the color, structure and level of transparency of the final product. As the glass cools and begins to solidify, the glassmaker can shape it into a variety of things, from delicate beads and fine jewelry to intricate vases and decorative pieces of various sizes. Besides being recognized as the inventors of Murano glass, the master glassmakers on the Island of Murano are also renowned for having pioneered many other crafts of glassmaking, such as millefiori, for instance. The highly detailed and complex millefiori beads are produced by blending multiple layers of colored glass while the material is easily shapeable, which are later combined into an extensive array of profiles and patterns. Murano glass also envelops a number of white milk glass types, as well as aventurine glass, which is popular for its golden and brass-like reflections. In present day, Murano glass and the fascinating history of its craft are among Italy’s main attractions, and account for the great majority of the local tourist trade. Apart from the generous selection of dedicated museums and the extensive offer of Murano glass pieces welcoming enthusiasts of Murano glass items on the island, visitors eager to discover more about this unique material nowadays also have the opportunity to see the master artisans in action and even learn some of the techniques used for producing it. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Want to find out about Murano glass? For more resources about Murano glass please review these links. |
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