For the past six centuries, a unique production of handblown glass has been concentrated on the island of Murano, that is part of the Venetian Lagoon. It is considered to be the first major glassmaking centre of Europe and is known to have a unique colour palette in the world.
The tacit knowledge of the glassmakers is seen as a treasure, thanks to sophisticated techniques they have perfected over time, which result on the finest production, nowadays. Glassmaking is a hard and uncomfortable profession, as it demands working under very high temperatures and finishing pieces in real time. Each piece is like a birth, requiring rapid and precise gestures from the master, in a perfect synchronization with their team. However, the difficulty of the practice is overlapped by the passion towards the traditional craft. It continues attracting worldwide artists and designers to work in direct contact with Murano’s masters, keeping the incredible tradition alive.
Image credits: Laura Panno, Marco Sweering
