| Millefiori, also known as Murrine, is one of the | | | | The preparation continues as the resulting multi-layered |
| best-known and highly sought after techniques of | | | | rod is stretched and then cut up into small cylindrical |
| Murano glass making. It stands for "a thousand | | | | pieces called "murrine". The murrine are then cleaned |
| flowers" in Italian, and indeed, the end result of this | | | | up and arranged in a desired pattern within a special |
| painstaking work often reminds a field of whimsical | | | | heat-resistant mold to give the product the necessary |
| flowers showing off their beautiful colors. Looking at | | | | shape. Next, the mold containing the murrine pattern is |
| the amazing Murano glass rings, pendants, figurines, | | | | placed into the special furnace. These furnaces are |
| paperweights, vases, and even lamps made in this | | | | the cornerstone of the glassmaking craft, as the |
| technique, it is hard to imagine just how Venetian glass | | | | artisans use them to heat up the glass mixture and |
| masters can create such multitude of patterns and | | | | work it while it's in a liquid state. Once murrine start |
| richness of colors out of glass. So in this article we'll | | | | bonding with each other inside the furnace, the mold is |
| uncover the secrets of this technique known since | | | | removed and its contents are pressed upon to create |
| antiquity and perfected by Murano glassmakers, and | | | | a continuous Millefiori surface with no gaps. After that, |
| give you a glimpse of the rich history behind it. | | | | it's back to the furnace again for creating and shaping |
| In the sixteenth century some of the Murano glass | | | | the final product. |
| artisans started attempts to imitate the beautiful | | | | The results of this labor-intensive process are |
| ancient glassware created by Romans. They were | | | | gorgeous patterns and deep intensive colors unseen in |
| successful in doing that, but as with many other | | | | any other glass creations. From Millefiori pendants and |
| glassmaking techniques, the secret they uncovered | | | | earrings worn by discerning jewelry lovers around the |
| had subsequently been lost again until the interest in | | | | world to museum-worthy millefiori vases, figurines, and |
| these Roman pieces sparked anew in the second half | | | | other Venetian glass creations, these distinctive |
| of the nineteenth century. At that time when | | | | products that come out of Venetian glass masters' |
| archeological discoveries became more frequent and | | | | furnaces are artistic and unique. These days, not only |
| many beautiful decorative items were unearthed, | | | | the nobility or the wealthy can enjoy Millefiori |
| Murano glass artists again became fascinated with | | | | decorations, but anyone who admires Millefiori and |
| glassware from classic antiquity created by the | | | | Venetian glass can buy a piece of this centuries-old |
| ancient Romans and exhibited in the famous Murano | | | | art. From small Murano glass rings, cufflinks, earrings, |
| Glass Museum. Some of the beautiful objects that | | | | and pendants, to figurines, ashtrays, lamps and bowls - |
| came to us from those times include glass vases, | | | | a variety of Millefiori products one can buy is |
| bowls, urns, and plates with flower or abstract patterns | | | | astounding, and so is the price range, which stretches |
| spread around the inside and outside surfaces of the | | | | from just a few dollars to over a hundred. |
| objects. Venetian glass artisans understood | | | | And with the advent of the World Wide Web one |
| conceptually that these items were created using | | | | does not need to travel to Venice to get a special |
| glass rods shaped in various patterns and then cut up | | | | Millefiori piece, but can choose it from her own |
| and fused together. However, it was not so easy to | | | | armchair and get it delivered. The internet has made |
| work out a precise technique for reproducing these | | | | Venetian glass and Millefiori glassware more |
| types of glassware, since that required persistent and | | | | accessible and more affordable, yet there are a few |
| passionate research by trial and error. This was just | | | | things to look out for while shopping for these products |
| what a driven and curious man named Vincenzo | | | | online. In recent years there have been many fake |
| Moretti set out to do. At first, he worked as a | | | | pieces and counterfeits from China and other countries |
| glass-paste mixer at one of the most prominent | | | | offered for sale as "Murano Glass". It is more difficult |
| Murano glass companies of that time, Salviati & | | | | to create fake Millefiori glass than some other types, |
| Co., which then turned into well-known Venice and | | | | but people still do it though they often use very |
| Murano Company. Vincenzo spent countless hours | | | | different simple techniques or just plain decoration over |
| and finally uncovered a secret to producing Millefiori | | | | glass to achieve the effect on pictures. Of course |
| glass, which instantly made Venice and Murano | | | | once you finally get your hands on such fake product, |
| Company world-famous thanks to the millefiori works | | | | you will see the difference right away, but by that time |
| they showcased in Paris Universal Exposition in 1878. | | | | it may be too late and very hard to get your money |
| Vincenzo Moretti not only learnt how to achieve the | | | | back. For this reason every Murano glass buyer needs |
| beauty of Millefiori patterns, he also managed to create | | | | to know that Murano glass can only be produced on |
| exact copies of the amazing glassware produced by | | | | Murano Island within Venice, Italy. All other places of |
| the Ancient Romans and used in Pompeii and in other | | | | origin produce counterfeits. Look for assurances on |
| Roman cities that was on display in world-famous | | | | the website of the origin of their products such as |
| Archeological Museum of Naples. | | | | certificates of authenticity, assess the level of Murano |
| Thus, this special technique that once again made the | | | | glass knowledge that the seller possesses by looking |
| world stand in awe of the enviable skills of Murano | | | | at product descriptions and informative articles on the |
| glass makers is no longer a secret. It is a very | | | | site, and survey the site's policies carefully before |
| complicated and painstaking glassmaking technique | | | | deciding to buy. |
| and requires an exceptionally high level of skill, and | | | | Once you find a trustworthy seller and buy your very |
| maybe for these reasons it is still the trademark of | | | | own beautiful Millefiori glass product, you are |
| Venetian glassmakers. Making of a millefiori pattern is | | | | guaranteed to enjoy it every day and get lots of |
| a multi-step process, but it all starts with a glass rod | | | | compliments and questions about it, because everyone |
| prepared in a special way. It contains multiple layers of | | | | is enchanted by these gorgeous unique patterns, the |
| semi-liquid glass paste applied one-on-top-of-another | | | | rich history and tradition behind them, and the artistic |
| around the cylindrical rod. Each layer is molded to have | | | | expression that shines through them. |
| a certain shape (usually star or flower-like) and color. | | | | |