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 Venice is all known for its gondolas, carnivals,
pigeons from St.Marco Square
and amazing hand-made glass ware. Tableware made from Venetian glass has always
been favored by the real lovers of antique art since it adds more refined chic
and lavishness to every event. One of classics stated once that «glass and
happiness are easy to break». Yet, the Venetian tableware is the symbol of that
fragile happiness that is treated with gentle care and trembling love not to break
it.
The
Venetian glass was highly appreciated in Medieval Europe. Cups and bowls marked
with the stamp of the reputed glassblowers were valued too high to present to
monarchic persons. Louis XV, the French King, ranked the Venetian glassware as
the «paramount decoration for the royal table servicing ». No solemn and luxury
functions did without those glass jewelry for the high class. Delicate decanters,
vases and goblets are depicted by the legendary painters as Titian, Tintoretto,
Carpaccio, Giorgione and Veronese.
The words «Venetian
glass» are associated with the quality, style and absolute taste throughout six
centuries. The second name for this glass was given by the islets Murano which
is washed by the waters of the Venetian lagoon from all sides. Murano glass excites
the fancy of millions of tourists who save their assets to visit the city of
channels and palaces and it is the item to be longed to possess by many
collectors.
The story
of craft
The
privileged tableware is referred to luster and fame of Venice. The traditions of the Venetian glass
craftwork are believed to origin at abbeys of the Benedictines Order in the VI century.
The monks managed to smelt glassy items to keep their favorite liqueurs in the
special technique borrowing the secrets possessed by the Byzantine glass-makers.
Venice
governors announced of their privilege and monopolistic right to produce glass
and glassware far later, in the XII century when they forced all the highly
qualified craftsmen exile to Murano islet. The technology of blow piping was
then considered as the governmental secret and masters worked under the fare of
being executed if they escape from the islet.
Approximately
since the fifteenth century the basic Murano shapes for tableware was done that
became the standard for all coming generation of glass makers. Containers for beverages
were made shaped as late Gothic style cups or funnel-shaped glasses on the
foot. The dishes were also made on the stem, either, which were the decorative
element and also the legs provided more reliability and stability to the ware.
Jugs were made egg-styled with short necks and gracefully bent hands.
In the XXI century
the Venetian glass-makers did not use bellows to pump the air while making
glassware but they blew out their items from metal tubes. Tiny beads frozen in
glassy mass still keep the human breathing and this is what adds the special
chic to Murano items.
Glass
manufacturers of today
The segment
of exclusive Venetian glassware cannot boast with a range of manufacturers who
could compete to dominate in the market of glassware. Mainly, it is workshops
and plants located in Murano. The Venetian craftsmen find it appropriate to certify
their items and number their works and thus, they warn the potential customers
of potential fake works.
The
legendary manufacturer Gambaro & Poggi provides approximately a thousand
and a half items including cups, plates and vases. Apart from tableware, the
company manufacturers candleholders, animal figurines and small souvenirs. The
color gamut of items is totaled as over nine hundred shades.
Decorative
plates, dishes, vases and cups by the SegusoViro Company are decorated with the
inter glass gilding and colorful insertions. The particles of invisible to open
eye delicate foil get frozen in the glass as the golden glaze. The designer Jean-Paolo
Seguzo, the person known to continue the ancient tradition of Murano
glass-blowers, is able to masterly blend the gilded glass with the cobalt
glass, the translucent is well matched with the mosaic, providing more fresh
ideas to win.
The
Biancalani Company is worth mentioning as the manufacturer of glassware and
throughout sixty years the company makes tall wineglasses, decanters, mugs, dishes
and trays from glass incrusted with the pure gold.
The reputed
company FORMIA is not specialized on manufacturing the tableware as
such. It rather favors for figurines and other interior decorative
elements.
Though vases by FORMIA are
well-known and they are offered at almost all gift stores. The works by
FORMIA are
not expensive and this brand is rather democratic in Italy though in
other countries the
prices are much higher for the glass works of this company.
Today
internet stores offer a wide range of Venetian glass ware. Yet, the prices are
not affordable for ordinary people with the gift set of two cups for the price
of 4.500 US dollars while the decorative dishes for fruits made in limited
edition go for 2.500 US dollars. And this is not the highest pricing policy.
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