MURANO MILLIFIORI

A LOT OF HISTORY IS ASSOCIATED WITH MURANO, THE SMALL SETTLEMENT JUST OFF THE SITE OF VENICE (VENEZIA), WHERE GLASSBLOWERS HAD BEEN BANISHED TO EXECUTE THEIR SMELLY, IF NOT POISONOUS CRAFT OF MAKING GLASS.

EVENTUALLY IT ALSO BECAME A SECRET, SECURELY GUARDED VILLAGE, SO AS TO PROTECT THE FINER TOUCHES OF PRODUCING SPECIAL GLASS OR DESIGNS. "TRADE SECRETS". IT BACKFIRED LATER ON WHEN ADVANCES MADE IN OTHER COUNTRIES BYPASSED THE STAGNANT STATE OF THE ART IN MURANO. ISOLATION DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK TO ONE'S BENEFIT.

Murano is also the most abused term, attached to ordinary glass pieces, in an attempt to carve out some dubious  distinction by this reference, despite the fact that the item was made in China or Russia, and has no discernable connection with Murano. Urban Legend or "folklore" of some kind has many believing in something unique and special, when Murano is referenced. Well, our point is: judge the quality of the piece in question, not the claims of any Murnao association, true or flase as it may be.

HOWEVER ONE SPECIALTY IS THE MIILIFIORI STRAND, WHERE MULTIPLE THIN THREADS, OF DIFFERENT COLORS AND CROSS SECTIONS, ARE FUSED TOGETHER INTO A SORT OF ROPE OR CABLE. TO THIS DAY THE ART OF MILLIFIORI (THOUSAND FLOWERS) IS PRACTICED IN MURANO.

LARGER DIAMETERS, MADE UP OF MANY THREADS, ARE FREQUENTLY USED IN JEWELRY, CROSS SECTIONS OF SAME LAID IN OR ONTO PENDANTS ETC. ANOTHER APPLICATION IS TO CUT VERY THIN SLICES (LIKE SLICING OFF A SALAMI) AND INCORPORATING THESE INTO BODIES OF OTHER GLASS ITEMS.

WE CALL THIS PRODUCT "MURANO MILLIFIORI INSERT SLICES" IN ITEM "X". WE SELL VARIOUS SUCH ITEMS OVER TIME. AT THE PRESENT WE HAVE A DOG, AND TWO STYLES OF SWAN PAIRS, 1 BLACK, THE OTHER RED. THIS MAKES FOR A VERY UNIQUE APPEARANCE, AND SUCH INSERTS ARE OFTEN DEFORMED DURING THE SHAPING PROCESS OF THE PART INTO WHICH SUCH INSERTS HAVE BEEN PLACED.

MURANO MILLIFIORI INSERTS ARE A COMMON ITEM IN ONE SENSE, YET NOT MANY GLASSBLOWERS NECESSARILY MAKE USE OF THEM IN THEIR WORK. IN THAT SENSE THEN IT IS AN UNUSUAL HIGHLIGHT USED IN FINER ARTGLASS PIECES BY THE BETTER GLASSBLOWERS OF THE WORLD.

THE ACTUAL STRAND IS AN ITEM MARKETED BY MURANO AND SOLD ON THE WORLD MARKETS TO THOSE WO WILL PAY THE PRICE, AND THOSE WHO WISH TO USE IT IN SOME OF THEIR WORK. THOSE RESULTING WORKS OF ARTGLASS ARE TO BE JUDGED ON THEIR OWN MERIT, WITH THE INSERT ASPECT MERELY A FEATURE OF IT.