Venetian glass is a high-quality glass that is traditionally made on the island of Murano, which is located near Venice. Venetian glass is famous for its meticulously guarded techniques, which were developed at a time when glassware was still riddled with flaws and extremely difficult to produce. Venetian artisans perfected the art of glassmaking, resulting in a product that is famous for its clarity and lack of occlusions. Today, artisans from all over the world travel to Murano to learn Venetian glassblowing techniques from masters.
Glass-making artisans in Venice were highly valued for their unique skills and the specialized techniques they developed for producing particularly high-quality glass. Concerns about fire in Venice prompted the city to prohibit glass production within the city limits in 1291, relocating the production of the city’s famous glass to Murano instead. The secret of how to make Venetian glass was closely guarded on Murano, and artisans were not permitted to leave the island and open a shop elsewhere. Of course, the techniques used to make Venetian glass eventually spread to other European cities, which began producing the fine, delicate glassware that had made Venice famous.
Venetian glass is known for its purity; the glass is completely clear, though the artisan may have added a pure, strong color. Venetian glass is solidly colored in some cases, while artisans have created a smoky effect with one or more colors in others. Milk glass, glass with flecks of precious metals, enameled glass, and realistic imitation glass gemstones were also made Venetian artisans at a time when these techniques were unknown in other parts of the world. Until the 16th century, when other nations began producing comparable glassware, they dominated the glass market with their superior product.
Venetian glass, like all glass, begins with a silica base that must be mixed with a flux and melted. The flux agent slows the glass’s solidification, allowing the glass maker to manipulate it to his or her liking. When the glass is molten, it can be used to make Murano glass beads, chandeliers, and tableware, which have made Venetian glass famous for centuries. Visitors can see a glass museum with numerous samples of beautiful Venetian glass as well as an overview of the history of glass on Murano, where glass makers still make glass in the traditional way.