Introduction
Glass conjures up visions of luxury and decadence, and no country symbolizes this more than Italy. Here, glassmaking has been an important part of the economy since the Middle Ages. In the centuries following, Italian glassware has continued to flourish, solidifying its worldwide reputation. From beautiful Murano glass chandeliers and jewelry to spectacular Tuscan crystal, you should be able to find something stunning to grace your space or yourself.
Brief History of Italian Glassware
Glassmaking began as far back as 4000 B.C. when the Mesopotamians and Egyptians started to make simple glass vessels. Once the Syrians invented glassblowing in the 1st century B.C., glassmaking spread to the Roman Empire. Both tableware and decorative pieces were created, but by the time the Empire collapsed in the 5th century A.D., glassmaking had largely returned to being practiced in the Middle East.
In the 12th century, trade between Italy and the Middle East began, and Europe was reintroduced to glassmaking. In Venice, sheet glass was developed, leading to the creation of legendary stained-glass windows, which came to symbolize the Medieval period throughout Europe.
By the 14th century, glassmaking had been moved to the Venetian island of Murano. New techniques were created, and high-quality objects were now being produced.
Although we tend to think of Murano glass when Italian glassware is mentioned, glassmaking also spread to other parts of the country, especially Tuscany. Here, however, crystal glass is also produced.
Italian glassware continues to flourish with many workshops still being run in the same way as they were centuries ago, with little or no mechanical involvement. Many companies have been passed from one generation to another. What makes it all the more special is the fusion between tried and true techniques and new developments in design.
Different Types of Italian Glassware
Murano Glass
The Venetian Republic moved all glass workshops to the island of Murano in 1291 due to the fear of fires starting because of the hot furnaces. However, the real reason was to guard the secrets of the glassmaking industry by putting all the workshops in one small area. Before long, the glassmakers were forbidden from leaving the island. If they were caught doing so, they were sentenced to death. However, in return for their loyalty, they were treated well, permitted to carry swords, and their daughters were allowed to marry into nobility.
By the 16th century, around half of the 7000 inhabitants of Murano worked in the glassmaking industry. Murano glass was now used to make Venetian mirrors using lampworking techniques such as smalto. Other techniques were used to create decorative sculptures, vases, drinkware, and chandeliers. Most were handblown by skilled artists and were intricately detailed. Techniques used and still used today include millefiori, which is glass filled with floral designs and often used for jewelry and paperweights. Another popular technique is cristallo, which is a clear transparent glass different from crystal as it does not contain lead oxide. Decanters and glassware are popular cristallo products, often embellished with enamels, precious stones, and gold leaf. Lattimo is a type of glass that is milky white, resembling porcelain, and is used to create plates, glasses, cups, and sugar bowls.
If you want to buy authentic Italian glassware, head to the island of Murano. Here you will be able to visit small studios and workshops where you can be guaranteed bona fide pieces of glasswork.
Empoli Glass
Empoli is a town in Tuscany where glass has been created since the 14th century. Unlike Murano glass, which is often intricate, decorative, and usually colorful, Empoli glass is simply styled, with geometric or organic patterns, and not much mixing of colors. For many years since its inception, its trademark color has been ‘verde’, which is green in Italian. It was easy to produce because the sand in the area has iron in it, which makes the glass green. Eventually, other colors were introduced, but the pieces produced are mainly one color and not a mixture.
There is another type of glass produced in Empoli, and that is cased glass. The glass is composed of two layers, one brightly colored, and encased in a layer of clear glass. Sometimes it also has an internal layer of opaque Lattimo glass. Cased glass is often used in lighting fixtures and decorative pieces such as vases and bowls.
Colle di Val D’Elsa
Just 27 miles (45 km) south of Empoli is the town of Colle di Val d’Elsa. Here is produced 95% of Italy’s crystal and 14% of the world’s. The first crystal factory opened in the mid-18th century in an Augustan convent.
Crystal contains lead oxide, which affects the density and refractive index of the glass, making it clear and brilliant, unlike ordinary glass, which can be cloudy. The more lead in the glass, the more it sparkles. If you lift a crystal glass and flick it, it will make a ringing sound.
However, lead oxide is a pollutant, and some Italian crystal glass makers have found alternatives that still give the brightness and other qualities lead crystal has.
Each year, the town puts on the ‘Tuscan Colle di Val d’Elsa Crystal’ when the glass factories and artisan workshops open their doors, displaying their crystal masterpieces. There is also a museum in town, which is open all year round for you to admire many beautiful pieces.
Buy Authentic Italian Glassware From These Brands
Murano Brands
Venini
Venini & C. Glassworks was founded in 1921 in Murano by Paolo Venini, a Milanese lawyer who had been an ardent collector of Murano glass.
Venini Glassworks is renowned worldwide, in part due to the extensive range of glassmaking techniques used. These are some of the main techniques practiced –
Filigrana
Filigrana glass is made by superimposing, intertwining, and fusing long glass rods. This creates transparent glass with thin vertical threads of color.
Murrine
Murrine glass is known for its beautiful and colorful designs. It is made by layering different colors of molten glass and then stretching the layers into rods. Finally, these rods are cut to show original and intricate designs.
Incalmo
Incalmo is a glassblowing technique that involves fusing different pieces of colored glass to create a single piece of glass, such as a vase or a bowl. It is a difficult technique as different colors need different temperatures to work with.
In 2008, the Venini Museum was opened. It is a remarkable place containing 45,000 original drawings, 10,000 vintage photos, and 5,000 glass objects.
To buy a Venini piece is to own a true work of art that is one of a kind.
Barovier & Toso
The two famous and well-regarded companies of Barovier and Toso merged in 1936.
Barovier was founded in 1295 in Murano, just four years after all the glassworks were moved there from Venice. Although merged with Toso, it is still considered the oldest glass company still in operation in Murano. It is most famous for the rostrato glass technique, developed by Ercole Barovier in 1938. This type of glass has prisms and spikes spread all over the surface and is created by extruding points from the glass with a wire of glass. It is technically very difficult and showcases the skills of the artisan.
Toso was founded in 1854 by the six Toso brothers. The company was very popular during the Art Deco period, when it created many pieces of glasswork using the murrine technique. This suited the period perfectly.
Salviati & C.
Salviati & C. was founded in 1859 by Antonio Salviati. Although he was a lawyer, he was fascinated by Murano glass and the mosaics in the Basilica di San Marco, so he decided to change his profession.
The company came into prominence during the ‘First Glassmakers Exhibition’ in 1864, where Salviati exhibited a massive mosaic. This led to the company creating many famous mosaics throughout the world, including in the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey in England, in the Paris Opera House, and in the Viceroy’s Palace in Alexandria, Egypt.
The company continued to grow and started to make glass objects, such as amphoras, vials, glasses, and cups.
During the 20th century, the company expanded into new fields such as architectural lighting and produced some magnificent pieces. In the Chamber of Commerce in Parma, they created a 9-tonne, 22-meter (72 feet) high chandelier and 12 11-meter (36 feet) chandeliers for the Tonhalle Concert Hall in Düsseldorf.
Salviati & C. is still going strong and has rediscovered old Murano techniques such as avventurina and opalina.
Barbini
The company, Barbini, is named after its founder, Alfredo Barbini, who was alive between 1912 and 2007. At the age of 20, Barbini had the honor of becoming master glassmaker at Zecchin & Martinuzzi. He went on to work at VAMSA and Cenedese before opening his own company in 1950. There, he specialized in the bullicante technique, a thick glass with tiny air bubbles infused within the glass.
Seguso
Seguso is another legendary company that was founded by the Seguso family in 1397. It is still going strong and has one of the largest glass furnaces on the island. In the 19th century, the company revived forgotten techniques. The 20th century brought Archimede Seguso to the forefront of Murano glassmaking. He was well known for using the bullicante technique and iridescent glass, such as his ‘Zodiac’ of 1935.’ He formed his own company in 1946.
Today, the Seguso company is known for its high-end glass objects, installations, and lighting.
Mazzega
Mazzega was founded in 1946 and quickly became a famous name in Italian glassware, mainly due to the works created by the designer, Carlo Nason. He is a celebrated artisan known for his innovative contributions to contemporary lighting. His most famous creation is the ‘Lotus’.
Today, Mazzega specializes in meticulously crafted lighting products.
Non-Murano Glass Brands
Luigi Bormioli
Luigi Bormioli has been an important company in Italian glassware since 1946. Based in Parma, it produces beautiful crystal but with a difference. The crystal pieces created by Luigi Bormioli are lead, cadmium, and arsenic-free. The company has reduced the weight of its products, the amount of raw material used, and has produced recyclable products. Electric melting furnaces are used, reducing the amount of CO2 emissions. Yet, despite this, the products created are just as beautiful and have the same qualities as leaded crystal.
Luigi Bormioli creates top-quality items such as stemware, tumblers, plates, cups, bottles, and other table accessories.
Bormioli Rocco
Bormioli Rocco was founded in 1825 in Fidenza. It produces simple, but excellently made Italian glassware using machinery. The company was merged with Luigi Bormioli in 2017.
IVV – Industria Vetraria Valdarnese
IVV, located in San Giovanni, Valdarno, in the heart of Tuscany, was founded in 1952 as a cooperative. 30 glassmakers were involved, aiming to maintain traditions but at the same time, wanting to offer handmade blown glass products at a reasonable price, making them accessible to a wider range of people. Their focus is on tableware, glasses, and vases.
The company is focused on the environment and uses ecological products to create its glassware.
RCR Cristalleria Italiana
RCR Cristalleria Italiana was founded in 1967 in the heart of Tuscany by a group of craftsmen who wanted to create products of the highest quality with respect for the environment. All their glassware is made of eco-crystal, and the production process is electric, making them an emission-free factory. They also focus on producing recyclable products.
The company makes tableware, barware, and home decor, such as vases and bowls.
Conclusion
Although glass is produced all over the world, Italian glassware is special. Whether you are looking for Murano glass jewelry, Venetian mirrors, or Tuscan crystal, you won’t be disappointed. Artisans devote their lives to creating masterpieces, passing their skills from generation to generation and delighting thousands upon thousands of people.
