The Beauty of Italian Glassware

Italian glassware has a long and romantic background. Legend says that glassmaking arose in Italy before the Roman period when unnamed sailors made a large fire on the beach and made the discovery that the melted sand formed glass. Venice may have been at the epicenter of Italian glassware manufacture since 450 AD.

During the reign of Constantine, Italian glassware was a flourishing industry with professional standards and education via guided teachings. Several of the particular methods of Italian glassware making, including enameling, gilding, and filigrana had by that time been developed. Family traditions of glass recipes and techniques were conveyed from one generation to the next. Over the centuries the formulas have been fine-tuned and many improvements have been made.

During Constantine's rule Venice served as the central place of Italian glassware making and innovation. The numerous fires started by glasshouses prompted the authorities to prevent by law the opening of new glasshouses in the latter part of the thirteenth century. The decree led to the glassware making to move to the Venetian island of Murano, where glassmaking is still doing very well to this day.

Italian glassware making ruled the industry during the Renaissance period and into the seventeenth century when different manufacturers started to enter the fray. The clarity and delicacy of Italian glassware was as much appreciated and valued back then as it is to this day.

Modern Italian Glassware

Murano still serves as the epicenter of Italian glassware making and Venetian glass from Murano remains as exquisite and prized as ever. Despite the fact that some functional items are made in Murano, the primary goal is on decorative glassware. Most glassware could have a practical use, but it's hard to rationalize pouring pop into glasses that cost more than one hundred dollars per glass. Murano glassware serves as artistic masterpieces not intended for daily use on the breakfast table.

The art of Italian glassware is displayed in all the ornamental pieces, vases, jewelry, and chandeliers. Every piece is made by hand that makes every one one of a kind and gives it perfect colors with fragile and wonderful characteristics. Italian glassblowers will never be known as artisans but will always be known as extremely gifted artists.

Glassware as simple art is a relatively recent phenomenon, and Murano is slap bang in the center of the development. The American glass maker Dale Chihuly acquired most of the art in the Italian glassware house of Venini Fabrica. He also worked with Murano glass maker Lino Tagliapetra and created a series of chandeliers that grace several buildings in Venice.

During the Renaissance period Italian glassware was exquisite and desirable, and it is no different in present times. It continues to set the standard in quality and popularity in glass art, as well as setting the standard for modern glass art. The longstanding center of glassmaking, namely Murano, is still a location that attracts numerous glass makers for an opportunity to get educated by the best in the glassmaking world.

Article Source: http://blogticles.com

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated