Glass from Murano is very special, very expensive but exquisitely
beautiful. Once you see the real thing you will have no trouble
recognizing the cheap imitations.
It is so easy to get ripped off in the shops around St Marks
Square, therefore this Murano glass buying guide is essential reading for
those who would like to buy the genuine article at a decent price.
Exploring Murano
Murano is a fascinating place and the best way to really enjoy it is
to take a tour. There are two main ones on offer. The first one
(click here to view)
is the cheaper option and very interesting. Nothing like the other one though.
Murano is a suburb of Venice dating back to the middle ages. The glass
making industry attracted the finest glass craftsmen from the East - of
particular note were the Syrian craftsmen.
The Murano story begins in 1292 when the glass making industry
was moved from Venice to Murano for safety reasons – basically the
kilns kept starting fires in Venice. Venice in that period was built of
wood and fire was not exactly welcome.
Murano then developed into a rich village where many of the Venetian aristocrats build magnificent palaces.
True glass from Murano is made exclusively from silica extracted from the
Cogòli del Tesìn basin. It is world renowned as the purest and most
crystal clear glass to be found anywhere on earth. Exquisitely made
murrine are one of the most beautiful examples of the art of the Murano
glass makers.
Murrine are still made by hand, in the same way they were made in
centuries past. The shear quality and work involved justifies completely
the high price one has to pay for what is, in all respects, a work of
art.
Where to Buy Murano Glass in Venice or Online
In Venice there are two place I can highly recommend. These are as follows:
Tommasi Glass
Tommasi has been making glass for generations. Quality is superb
and prices reasonable (as Murano prices go). The factory is right in the
heart of the Murano district. Contact details are:
For all things Murano, Atelier is well worth to visit. I find
their chandeliers and mirrors in particular to be gorgeous. The address
is:
Address: Atelier Glass snc,
Cannaregio 234 Lista di Spagna, Venice, Italy,
tel-fax +39-041-716 727
Can't get to Venice? Then Multiforme will bring
the best Venetian artisans to your home. They deliver worldwide and the
quality of the glass is superb. Their site is a bit difficult to
navigate but my advice is to persist as their products are invariably
better than those on more glitzy competitor sites.
You can visit them here
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