Antiques: Murano Glass is the pride of Venice

You might say that Murano glass is sort of like cryptocurrency: Everyone talks about it, but nobody knows where it comes from. In fact, true Murano art glass is made in Italy and is likely to be around a lot longer than digital dinero. Already at the ripe old age of 500-plus years, it is still going strong. Let's put a spotlight on it.

First some history. While Murano glass dates back to at least the 15th century, Italian glassmaking stretches back at least 1,000 years before that. As early glass artisans spread out from the Middle East, some landed in Venice and were quickly celebrated for their ability to make beautiful things. Over the years, Italy developed a rich tradition of glassmaking, and by the 13th century it was a gleaming example of that country's artistic abilities. However, glassmaking was a dangerous business and fires were common. In a city composed mainly of wood structures, this was not a good thing. As a result, an edict was enacted in 1291 that henceforth all glassmakers would be consigned to the village of Murano just north of Venice. And so it was.

Today, Murano island remains a pretty small place. A collection of tiny islands connected by bridges and canals, the whole only about one mile in diameter with some 5,000 residents. Its location in the Venetian lagoon not only provided safety to the rest of Venice but also resulted in an isolation that allowed unique glassmaking techniques to flourish.

Within a century of its establishment as glass sanctuary, Murano glass was being exported throughout the known world, its makers regarded as the town's leading citizens. Their innovations included optical quality glass featuring exceptional clarity, multi-hued glass made with additives such as lead and tin, threaded glass with flecks of gold and silver and more. These were proprietary creations, or at least they were until the late 16th century when some of its artisans left Murano for other countries. After that, things were never quite the same.

Still, the fine art of glassmaking continues today in Murano with several of the world's leading makers maintaining flagship operations there. Among the artisans inspired by the island's history was Dale Chihuly, who brought Murano-based instructors to Seattle in the 1970s to educate his staff. Recognizing that accomplished copycats now exist in virtually all art forms, a Murano certification agency was formed in 1994 so that all truly Murano-made glass now carries a unique imprint.

For glass pieces made before this time, look for brand names and artisan marks known to be made on the islands of Murano. Pieces made there are created by hand so you should expect imperfections and a lack of absolute symmetry. Rich color combinations and glazes are also characteristic of the craft, as are flecks and threads of precious metals contained within the glass. Clowns, fish, vases and chandeliers are among the most popular designs. Not surprisingly, the internet is awash with identification tips and lists of Murano glassblowers, so do a bit of online research if you're considering an expensive purchase. There is still extraordinary art glass to be had from this historic region.

Mike Rivkin and his wife, Linda, are longtime residents of Rancho Mirage. For many years, he was an award-winning catalogue publisher and has authored seven books, along with countless articles. Now, he's the owner of Antique Galleries of Palm Springs. His antiques column appears Saturdays in The Desert Sun. Want to send Mike a question about antiques? Drop him a line at info@silverfishpress.com.