Murano Glass: Art & Currency

Celebrated for the exquisite beauty and rich history, Murano and Venetian glass stands as a collector’s dream. This legacy, spanning more than a thousand years, has cherished the hearts of artists, royalty, nobility, statesmen, and visionaries worldwide.

Murano glass is one of the most renowned and desired forms of art glass worldwide. It has been called a “poem of light and color,” combining the imagination of artists and the skill of glassmakers to create exquisite masterpieces. This handcrafted glass is made exclusively on the Venetian island of Murano, off the coast of northern Italy. Venetian glass has truly become one of the trademark symbols of Italian artistry, boasting centuries of history and tradition. Murano glassmakers are true artisans, using specialized skills passed down for generations. With its vivid colors, intricate patterns, and skilled craftsmanship, it remains a popular choice for anyone who appreciates luxury and design. Whether in the form of table lamps, chandeliers, sconces, vases, bowls, or mirrors, this treasured glass is a work of art that is sure to impress.

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Yet, contemporary collectors are not the only ones who have appreciated Murano glass for these exclusive properties. During the Age of Discovery, between the early 1400’s and the late 1700’s, Murano glass become an influential and valuable international currency.

The History of Murano

Murano glass has been famous since the 13th century when the Venetian Republic ordered the glass blowers to move to the island of Murano in 1291 to protect the city of Venice from the frequent fires that were caused by the ovens and furnaces used in glassblowing. The glassblowers who lived on Murano were the only ones allowed to produce glass within the Venetian Republic. Over the years, the glassmakers of Murano refined their techniques and skills, with many of them developing their own unique styles, colors, and forms.

Murano glass can be seen as a product of a unique set of social, economic, and geographical factors. The Venetian Republic supported glassmaking by encouraging craftsmen to innovate. At the same time ensuring they did not reveal the secrets of their trade to outsiders. Glassmaking evolved into a complex system of specializations and controls, which helped the Republic to retain its monopoly of the glass industry for centuries. Intense local competition led to constant innovations in techniques, styles, and artistic expressions.

Murano as Currency

While Murano chandeliers and cristalo pura variations are the skills often brought to mind when thinking of Venetian glass blowing, there was an equally important product crafted during the Age of Discovery. From the 1400s to the 1700s, glass beads were formed and used internationally as currency. This was so important to the glass trade that the bead-makers even had their own guild.

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As European colonists and explorers began trading in India, Africa, and the Americas, the often encountered people who had no interest in their money. Instead, beads were used by sailors to exchange for spices, ivory, palm oil, and enslaved people. The Murano ovens were producing 2 million pounds of beads each year. These beads that were traded as a currency were used for decorative objects. Now, hundreds of years later, they have been found on many items around the world such as Native American clothing and African headdresses.

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In additional to the trade beads, Murano produced tiny seed beads. These were also used for international trade and became a symbol of wealth throughout Europe. Seed beads were used to embellish jewelry and clothing, and became an important signifier of power and money.

Murano Glass Today