Murano glass is handcrafted on a small island near Venice, Italy. The techniques for creating Murano glass jewelry are very intricate and many have been developed over hundreds of years. The secrets of creating Murano glass are so highly guarded that the glassmakers work from the island of Murano where their trade secrets are better protected. Expert glassmaking is very difficult to master, but those who have are considered to be masters of a very fine art. Murano glass is created by first heating the glass to an extremely high temperature from which is can be molded, colored and shaped.
One of the more popular techniques for making Murano glass jewelry is known as avventurina. This name is derived from an Italian word meaning chance, because the technique is thought to have been discovered in the 17th century as the result of an accidental, but ultimately beneficial, spill in the glassmaker's studio. Avventurina glass has tiny pieces of metal imbedded into it. Glassmakers often use copper, though other metal oxides can be chosen as well. The metal within the glass gives it a shimmering, sparkling look that is well-suited to a delicate piece of jewelry. Avventurina glass is difficult to make and the process requires great skill.
If you've ever seen a piece of Murano glass jewelry with a design that resembled a feathered appearance, you were likely looking an example of Fenicio glass. With this glassmaking technique, a series of multicolored glass threads are inserted into the piece while it is hot. The threads are then gently combed with a hooked tool which pulls them downward into a puckered pattern. This is repeated as needed throughout the piece. The threads may be hooked a single time for a simple decoration, or several times over for an effect that may resemble fish scales. Fenicio glass can be made in many different colors and shapes.
Millefiori, or murrine, is one of the most popular types of Murano glass jewelry. The finished effect is certainly the most recognizable for its busy, colorful pattern. To create a millefiori piece, the glassmaker must use many different rods of multicolored glass. These are arranged in a pattern that looks like a series of geometric swirls or carefully placed flowers. The design can be seen clearly across the cross section of the piece. The colored rods are then melted together and formed into the shape of beads or pendants. Millefiori is often used for large pendants where the design can be easily seen and appreciated.
One of the more popular techniques for making Murano glass jewelry is known as avventurina. This name is derived from an Italian word meaning chance, because the technique is thought to have been discovered in the 17th century as the result of an accidental, but ultimately beneficial, spill in the glassmaker's studio. Avventurina glass has tiny pieces of metal imbedded into it. Glassmakers often use copper, though other metal oxides can be chosen as well. The metal within the glass gives it a shimmering, sparkling look that is well-suited to a delicate piece of jewelry. Avventurina glass is difficult to make and the process requires great skill.
If you've ever seen a piece of Murano glass jewelry with a design that resembled a feathered appearance, you were likely looking an example of Fenicio glass. With this glassmaking technique, a series of multicolored glass threads are inserted into the piece while it is hot. The threads are then gently combed with a hooked tool which pulls them downward into a puckered pattern. This is repeated as needed throughout the piece. The threads may be hooked a single time for a simple decoration, or several times over for an effect that may resemble fish scales. Fenicio glass can be made in many different colors and shapes.
Millefiori, or murrine, is one of the most popular types of Murano glass jewelry. The finished effect is certainly the most recognizable for its busy, colorful pattern. To create a millefiori piece, the glassmaker must use many different rods of multicolored glass. These are arranged in a pattern that looks like a series of geometric swirls or carefully placed flowers. The design can be seen clearly across the cross section of the piece. The colored rods are then melted together and formed into the shape of beads or pendants. Millefiori is often used for large pendants where the design can be easily seen and appreciated.