20 Facts About Venetian glass

Venetian glass is glassware made in Venice, typically on the island of Murano near the city.

Traditionally it is made with a soda–lime "metal" and is typically elaborately decorated, with various "hot" Venetian glass-forming techniques, as well as gilding, enamel, or engraving.

Glass was made in the Middle East long before it was made in Europe, though Ancient Roman Venetian glass made in Italy, Germany and elsewhere could be extremely sophisticated.

The furnaces used to make molten Venetian glass were a fire hazard, especially in cities with wooden structures nearby.

Aventurine Venetian glass, known as goldstone Venetian glass, is translucent brownish with metallic specks.

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Calcedonio is a marbled Venetian glass that looked like the semiprecious stone chalcedony.

Venetian glass's family had been involved with glassmaking since at least 1331, and the family continued in the business after his death.

Venetian glass was allowed to work in a Bohemian glass factory, where he learned the secrets of working with Bohemian crystal—which was becoming more popular than Murano cristallo.

Cristallo is a soda Venetian glass, created during the 15th century by Murano's Angelo Barovier.

At the time, cristallo was considered Europe's clearest Venetian glass, and is one of the main reasons Murano became "the most important Venetian glass center".

The use of "crystal" as a marketing term for Venetian glass has continued into modern times, though for at least the last century it has normally meant lead crystal Venetian glass of the type developed by Ravenscroft.

Lattimo, or milk Venetian glass, began being made in Murano during the 15th century, and Angelo Barovier is credited with its re-discovery and development.

Millefiori Venetian glass is a variation of the murrine technique made from colored canes in clear Venetian glass, and is often arranged in flower-like patterns.

Collectors of Murano Venetian glass included Henry VIII of England, Pope Clement VII, King Ferdinand of Hungary, Francis I of France, and Philip II of Spain.

The Venetian glass was extremely thin, and therefore fragile, adding to the effect of luxury.

The Bohemian and Prussian-style Venetian glass was later modified by the addition of lime and chalk.

The Bohemian Venetian glass was not suitable to the Murano-style artwork on the Venetian glass.

The Bohemian and English Venetian glass eventually became more popular than cristallo made in Murano.

The fall of the Venetian Republic caused hard times for glassmaking in Murano, and some of the Murano methods became lost.

The oldest Venetian glass factory is Antica Vetreria Fratelli Toso, founded in 1854.