GLASS OF VENICE
What do you have in mind when you think of Venice? Murano glass definitely comes to mind. And where to see the most interesting exhibitions related to the Murano glass tradition and where to buy original Murano glass products? You will read about it below.
The origins of glassmaking in Venice
The origins of glassmaking in Venice date back to the Roman Empire, when moulded glass was used to illuminate baths. Combining Roman experience with skills acquired in the Byzantine Empire and trade with the Orient, Venice became a significant centre of glass production by the 8th century. One of the earliest glass furnaces on the Venetian island, dating from the 8th century, was discovered by archaeologists in 1960.
However, the real peak in popularity of Venetian glass came in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the 15th century, the master glassmaker Angelo Barovier discovered the process of producing colourless glass (cristallo), which allowed the glassmakers of Murano to become the only manufacturers of mirrors in Europe. Furthermore, the popularity of Chinese porcelain among the European aristocracy contributed to the discovery and production of white glass imitating porcelain (lattimo).
Le Stanze del Vetro: the exhibition centre dedicated to glass
Le Stanze del Vetro – The Glass Rooms is an exhibition space located on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice.
The project was carried out jointly by the Cini Foundation and the Pentagram Stiftung, and now for several years the building has hosted a number of exhibitions and initiatives to highlight 20th century and contemporary Venetian glass. The project marks the opening of a new permanent exhibition space designed to host a series of solo and group shows featuring international artists, both contemporary and historical, who have used glass during their careers as an original means of expression and a medium for researching their own personal aesthetics. The aim is to illustrate the numerous potential uses of the medium and bring glass back to be in the centre of attention and discussion on the international art scene.
Open every day (except on Wednesday) from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Free admission.
Exhibition: Tapio Wirkkala & Toni Zuccheri at Venini
“Tapio Wirkkala at Venini” and “Toni Zuccheri at Venini” are two side-by-side exhibitions at LE STANZE DEL VETRO, curated by Marino Barovier and dedicated to two artists and designers who were active at the furnace in the 1960s. They both contributed, with their strong personalities, to the character of the production of the glassworks.
You can see the exhibition until 13 March.
EMI Art Glass: authentic Murano glass
Very often at our hotel, Corte di Gabriela, we hear the repeated question: where to buy authentic Murano glass? Our answer is clear: EMI Art Glass.
EMI Art Glass counts on 25 years of experience as an artist of Murano glass. Every single piece is directly from the owner and selected for you, trying to instill a real passion for the excellence of their production. All creations are completely handmade with the most prestigious contemporary master glass artists. You can choose from blown vases, abstract sculptures and lamps to smaller decorations.
