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Murano glass History
Murano Chandeliers and Venetian lights are the epitome of refinement and transparency, and its fascinating history and legacy dates back more than a thousand years. The oldest document confirming the presence of glass Masters in Murano is dated 982AD, over a thousand years ago. Byzantine glassmaking traditions played a role in the development of the art in Venice, then a bustling centre of trade between Europe and the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean. The Venetian Master glass were so highly skilled that they gained great control over the colour and transparency of their glass and mastered a variety of decorative techniques that enabled them to produce objects whose elegance and quality have never been equalled. Towards the end of the thirteenth century the Venetian Republic ordered all glassmakers to move their foundries to the island of Murano, due to the risk of fires. The Venice Republic (Serenissima), jealous of the glass art had forced to move the glass foundries to Murano island for check all the activities. The Murano glassblowers could not leave the island and Venice without a special permission. Many succeeded in escape and bringing with if the secret of the techniques of the Murano glass. In the XV century the craftsmanship of the glass had a crisis, due perhaps to the commerce of the Boemia glass inspired to the same Murano glass. But the Murano glassworkers created new techniques and new products, the Murano glass chandeliers to revive the economy in Venice.For centuries Europe's most prominent aristocratic families commissioned objects, chandeliers, vases and glasses of such exquisite aesthetics and handcrafting that today they are housed in museums and in private collections. In the making of their highly creative glassware Murano glass Masters still use the simple tools that were used in the past like pliers, blowing pipe, iron rods and clippers. Venetian glass and Murano Chandeliers are in fact a 'long' type of glass, i.e. it remains soft for a relatively long time before it has to be placed in the furnace. This is important for hand-working because it allows the glassmaker more time to shape the material, to blow it into thin layers and to employ the many complex techniques that distinguish Murano glassware and make it stand in a class of its own. The art and techniques of master glass makers are handed down "andando a bottega", that is 'only by learning in the shop' from the masters, exactly like in the medieval times. In fact in addition to employing and refining many technologies the art Venetian glassmaking includes a cultural aspect, a creative force that is handed down to the new generations only through hard work, modesty, great dedication and attention to the work arried out by the best craftsmen or artists. Remember, a fantastic Murano chandelier improves forever your house. Murano chandeliers,glass chandelier,italian lighting,venetian lights,wall sconce.