Blog

Lost in a Galss of Water: From Venetian goblets to Fabrizio Plessi

Schiavon2026-02-24T09:58:22+01:00

Goblets and Murano Glass Among the oldest and most distinctive Murano glass creations—such as chandeliers, vases and beads—there are also goblets and drinking glasses. Over the centuries, this theme has taken on countless variations: shapes, colors, decorations, and functions have highly evolved with the passing of time. Following the ambitions of glass masters, the desires of patrons, and later artistic experimentation, the history of the glass is rich and diverse. Standing out among these creations is the tipetto. The name itself suggests a...

Murano Illumina il Mondo 2025-2026 – 3rd Edition

Schiavon2025-11-24T16:26:21+01:00

In St. Mark’s Square, from 21 November 2025 to 1 March 2026, Murano Illumina il Mondo returns: a project promoted by The Venice Glass Week and the City of Venice which, following the success of the past two editions, now enters its third year. Beneath the arches of the Procuratie Vecchie, twelve chandeliers created by international artists in collaboration with twelve Murano furnaces transform Piazza San Marco into an open-air museum, where light and glass become an urban language. The Murano chandelier,...

Murano Glass between Venice and Milan

Schiavon2025-11-06T10:13:19+01:00

Murano glass boasts a thousand-year-old history that amplifies the immense value of the delicate and precious creations from the Venetian island. Since ancient times, the shaping of beads — such as conterie, murrine, and perle a lume — has been used in the world of fashion, both for jewelry and for the decoration of fabrics and garments. Today, the connection between these two worlds has grown ever stronger and continues to produce works of extraordinary value. Its colors, intrinsic malleability, artisanal...

A Family Heritage: from 1854 to the present

Schiavon2025-10-30T14:52:36+01:00

For the history of Murano glass, this year marks a huge milestone: one of Murano’s most appreciated glassmakers—Fratelli Toso is celebrating its 170th anniversary. To honor this remarkable example of a family‑run workshop, there are two exhibitions you should know about. From humble beginnings in 1854, through crisis and innovation in the early 20th century, to mid‑century artistic brilliance and late‑century family resilience, Fratelli Toso exemplifies Murano’s enduring spirit—a masterful blend of tradition and reinvention. Their retrospectives not only celebrate objects, but also...

Conterie: rediscovering the smallest bead in Murano glass-making history

Schiavon2025-10-20T10:09:38+02:00

A tale as old as time… Unlike many tales this story is still alive and well. History of bead making can be traced back to ancient Egypt all the way to the Roman Empire.14th century marks an important milestone as bead making arrives in Venice, which will be a trading center for Africa, the Americas and India.   Classified by their production technique and form, Venetian glass beads, also referred as pearls, have three main types; conterie (seed beads), rosetta (chevron beads)...

The Future of Murano Glass – Blowers of Tomorrow

Schiavon2025-10-20T10:05:30+02:00

The newly published comic book The Future of Murano Glass shines a spotlight on the generational transition of the island’s historic glassmaking tradition, using innovative multimedia content aimed at the younger generation. The goal is to help rediscover the beauty of glass art and to encourage the continuation and preservation of this heritage. The challenges of a legacy as grand as it is fragile The glassmaking tradition of Murano is centuries old, with roots dating back to the 13th century. The craft...

Tomorrow’s Glass: Between Sustainability and Expression

Schiavon2025-05-16T10:40:08+02:00

Glass does not decompose. It can be shattered, reshaped, recycled—but never truly erased. It outlives us. That permanence, once a symbol of mastery and endurance, now urges us to reflect back upon ourselves. Can a timeless craft, rooted in techniques unchanged for centuries, adapt to a world in crisis — a world that can no longer afford the luxury of staying the same as yesterday? Sustainability has reached to the glowing furnaces of glassmaking. In Murano and beyond, where fire still...