Discover the Secret to Discreet Fashion Colour
You like colour but don't want to appear gaudy or vulgar when going out for a special occasion. Well, there is an answer - nothing adds a a light touch of colour like a piece of glass jewellery and nothing matches the quality of authentic Murano and Antica Murrina venetian glass jewellery imported from Italy.
Murano glass jewellery is very colourful and very attractive and is one of the most famous jewellery brands in the world for a number of reasons. First, Murano glass has been made for at least 1300 years and second the jewellery is beautiful and relatively inexpensive. In this article I will review the history of Murano glass jewellery and describe why the jewellery is so beautiful.
Murano itself is a small island in the heart of Venice, one of over 130 on which the entire city of Venice is built. Venetian glass was originally made throughout Venice, but the Venetian Republic localised the production of glass to the island of Murano in order to reduce the danger of fires spreading through the mainly wooden buildings. Within a hundred years half of the population of Murano were involved in the production of glass. The unique talents of the master glass workers were unparalleled in Europe; they were the only people who were able to make multi-coloured glass and the only ones who could make glass mirrors.
It is believed that glassmaking in Murano originated from 9th century Rome, with significant Asian and Muslim influences. Murano's reputation as a centre for glassmaking was born when the Venetian Republic ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano in 1291. Murano's glassmakers were soon the island's most prominent citizens. By the 14th century, glassmakers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed immunity from prosecution by the Venetian state and found their daughters married into Venice's most affluent families. However glassmakers were not allowed to leave the Republic. Many craftsmen took this risk and set up glass furnaces in surrounding cities and as far afield as England and the Netherlands. By the end of the 16th century, three thousand of Murano island's seven thousand inhabitants were involved in some way in the glassmaking industry.
The process of making Murano glass is complicated and takes a lifetime to master. It involves heating up silica to melting point and then cooling it to an exact temperature where it may be formed into the desired shape. Other products are added into the mix to slow solidification and to create stability and colour. Copper, gold and cobalt are a few of the substances used to create the vivid colours displayed in the glass. One of the most attractive affects used when making Murano glass jewellery is to blow glass over thin layers of gold, silver and copper foil. The affect that this creates is a beautiful iridescence; it gives every piece of Murano Glass Jewellery [http://www.jivedesign.com.au/murano-glass-jewellery] unique qualities as the patterns created by each piece of foil will never be completely identical.
Unfortunately some Asian countries are copying Murano designs and sell cheap items into Australia masquerading as authentic jewellery. Make sure you only buy authentic Murano jewellery backed with an authenticity certificate from a trusted online jeweller like Jive Design in Noosa Heads.
Murano glass jewellery is very colourful and very attractive and is one of the most famous jewellery brands in the world for a number of reasons. First, Murano glass has been made for at least 1300 years and second the jewellery is beautiful and relatively inexpensive. In this article I will review the history of Murano glass jewellery and describe why the jewellery is so beautiful.
Murano itself is a small island in the heart of Venice, one of over 130 on which the entire city of Venice is built. Venetian glass was originally made throughout Venice, but the Venetian Republic localised the production of glass to the island of Murano in order to reduce the danger of fires spreading through the mainly wooden buildings. Within a hundred years half of the population of Murano were involved in the production of glass. The unique talents of the master glass workers were unparalleled in Europe; they were the only people who were able to make multi-coloured glass and the only ones who could make glass mirrors.
It is believed that glassmaking in Murano originated from 9th century Rome, with significant Asian and Muslim influences. Murano's reputation as a centre for glassmaking was born when the Venetian Republic ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano in 1291. Murano's glassmakers were soon the island's most prominent citizens. By the 14th century, glassmakers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed immunity from prosecution by the Venetian state and found their daughters married into Venice's most affluent families. However glassmakers were not allowed to leave the Republic. Many craftsmen took this risk and set up glass furnaces in surrounding cities and as far afield as England and the Netherlands. By the end of the 16th century, three thousand of Murano island's seven thousand inhabitants were involved in some way in the glassmaking industry.
The process of making Murano glass is complicated and takes a lifetime to master. It involves heating up silica to melting point and then cooling it to an exact temperature where it may be formed into the desired shape. Other products are added into the mix to slow solidification and to create stability and colour. Copper, gold and cobalt are a few of the substances used to create the vivid colours displayed in the glass. One of the most attractive affects used when making Murano glass jewellery is to blow glass over thin layers of gold, silver and copper foil. The affect that this creates is a beautiful iridescence; it gives every piece of Murano Glass Jewellery [http://www.jivedesign.com.au/murano-glass-jewellery] unique qualities as the patterns created by each piece of foil will never be completely identical.
Unfortunately some Asian countries are copying Murano designs and sell cheap items into Australia masquerading as authentic jewellery. Make sure you only buy authentic Murano jewellery backed with an authenticity certificate from a trusted online jeweller like Jive Design in Noosa Heads.
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