UNITED STATES, Sep 15 — It is not often that someone living in Arizona would fly to Europe to shop for Christmas ornaments. I was actually shopping for a few clients, one of them with Italian ancestry. Their lovely home in Paradise Valley needed those few extra touches that only a “hands on” visual could complete. A cloak of secrecy surrounded the island and craftsmen lived under the threat of death should their processes or concoctions leave the shores of Murano
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t is not often that someone living in Arizona would fly to Europe to shop for Christmas ornaments. I was actually shopping for a few clients, one of them with Italian ancestry. Their lovely home in Paradise Valley needed those few extra touches that only a “hands on” visual could complete.
While in Venice shopping, it didn’t take long to have offers for a personal tour of the blown glass district on the island of Murano (I think they smell money wanting to be spent). The thought of Unique Christmas Ornaments became one of my focuses as well as blown glass art in general. The boat docked near the Rialto Bridge to pick me up and I was filled with the anticipation of visiting Murano, one of Europe’s famous islands, for the first time.
Unique Christmas ornaments were the last thing on my mind as I journeyed on cobblestone roads and walk ways to enter the fabulous galleries and on to the actual glass blowing experience. Famous artists are represented from all over the world. The glassblowing process intricate and time sensitive. On the second day of full out exploration I was ready to settle in on Christmas tree decorations again. Decorated Christmas trees are never complete without the reflection of light bouncing off blown Glass Christmas ornaments. You may ask what makes Venetian and Murano blown glass so special? Part of the history will intrigue you I’m sure!
My experience was amazing. The cobblestone roads, historical buildings, galleries and especially the family run businesses were my favorites. I was told that the water in the channels stunk! The channels must have been recently treated or, possibly I was so in awe that, I was mesmerized past the smell. Even a gondola ride couldn’t prove otherwise. Such a treat, an art in and of itself!
Venice has a depth of history through and through. The city of Venice originated as a collection of lagoon communities banded together for mutual defense from the Lombard’s, Huns and other invading peoples as the power of the Western Roman Empire dwindled in northern Italy.
Yes, back to the blown glass history: Byzantine craft men played an important role in the development of Venetian glass. When Constantinople was sacked by the fourth Crusade in 1204, some fleeting artisans came to Venice. Even in a city renowned for its water, the many glass shops became a source of serious fires. Murano’s reputation as a center for glass making was born when the Venetian Republic ordered glass makers to move their foundries to Murano in 1291 because of the many fires and destruction to the city’s mostly wooden buildings.
More glass workers migrated when the Ottomans came to Constantinople in 1453, supplying Venice with still more glass workers. By the 16th century, the Venetian artisans had gained even greater control over the color and transparency of their craft and had mastered a variety of decorative techniques. Some of these techniques are still used today in glass Christmas ornaments and holiday decorations.
The Italians carefully guarded their glass secrets. By the Middle Ages Venice had become the heartbeat of glass making. It is reported that the city was once home to more than 8,000 glass artisans. Venice was a major trading port, and the city passed protectionist laws prohibiting the import of glass and glass blowers from elsewhere.
In Murano, not only was the threat of burning down one of Italy’s most prized cities diminished, so too was the likelihood that the secrets of glassblowing would be found out. A cloak of secrecy surrounded the island and craftsmen lived under the threat of death should their processes or concoctions leave the shores of Murano. Murano glass is still interwoven with Venetian glass history.
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It is not often that someone living in Arizona would fly to Europe to shop for Christmas ornaments. I was actually shopping for a few clients, one of them with Italian ancestry. Their lovely home in Paradise Valley needed those few extra touches that
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