By: Kris Mink
A beautiful and long history is characteristic of Italian glassware. Legend says that glassmaking started in Italy in the pre-Roman period when unnamed sailors built a intense fire on the beach and discovered that the very hot sand formed glass. Venice may have been at the epicenter of Italian glassware manufacture since 450 AD.
During the period of Constantine, Italian glassware was a flourishing guild with professional conduct standards and training via guided teachings. The formulation of particular Italian glassware manufacturing methods, such as filigrana, gilding, and enameling had also already taken place. Dads conveyed to their sons the techniques and glass recipes in the form of family cookbooks. The formulas have been added to and fine-tuned for for a long time.
The making of glass was a healthy industry in Italy throughout Constantine's time. In the late 13th century, a law mas made forbidding the formation of new glasshouses inside the city limits due to the numerous fires caused by glasshouses. The law caused the glassware industry to relocate to Murano, an island close to Venice, where glassmaking is still doing very well today.
New manufacturers started to enter the fray after the industry had been ruled by Italian glassware manufacturing throughout the Renaissance period and well into the seventeenth century. The clarity, color, delicacy, and beauty of Italian glassware was as much appreciated and celebrated during those times as it is today.
Modern Italian Glassware
The marvel and glitter of Venetian glassware from Murano is still highly sought after and Murano still remains the epicenter of Italian glassware making. Even though a collection of functional pieces are manufactured in Murano, the main focus is for decoration oriented glassware. Any glassware could have a practical use, but it's hard to rationalize putting pop into glasses that cost more than one hundred dollars per glass. They're art objects, not dinnerware.
Italian glassware is art, and the glasses and ornamental pieces are all outstanding. Every piece is hand-blown, which makes every item one of a kind and gives it perfect colors with fragile and fantastic features. Italian glassblowers will never be described as artisans but will forever be known as extremely accomplished artists.
Glassware serving as pure art is a comparatively recent development, and Murano is slap bang in the center of the development. The American glass artist Dale Chihuly learned most of his art in the Italian glasshouse of Venini Fabrica. Venice boasts a collection of glass chandeliers that were made by Chihuly in collaboration with Murano glass maker Line Tagliapetra.
Modern Italian glassware remains as beautiful and valued as it was during the Renaissance. To this day it still determines the standard for modern day glassware as well as the standard for fragility and quality in glass art. The wonderful epicenter of glassmaking, namely Murano, is to this day a location that attracts numerous glass artists for a chance to learn from the leaders in the industry.
Article Directory: http://www.articlecube.com
Written by Kris Mink. At www.glasswareinfo.com you can get glassware help, as well as advice for 22 oz glassware.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
History of Murano Rosary Beads
By Beth Guide
Murano Italy, a small town north of Venice, has set the world standard for glasswork and beads, including Murano Rosary Beads, making it the glass capital of the world,. Tracing back to the 9th century, Murano glass and beads have a long history. The artwork, innovation and craftsmanship have grown in tradition through the centuries.
Murano was a large port, along with Venice allowing it to use the glass as a trading staple with its is Asian and African neighbors. One of the earliest uses and stories was about how glass was blown into the shape of bottles dating back as far as 1083 and elevated to the glass capital of the world in the 13th century.
In the 1930s there was a distinctive shift in Murano Glass, lead by Ermanno Toso. He changed the focus of the items made to a more modern theme. Murano glass and the island itself has withstood the test of two world wars, and in the 40s was reinvigorated post World War II, making the 1950s one of the more artistically memorable sets of years. Among the artist techniques employed, glass blowers used the technique called filigrana, where the glass blower takes the glass blowing pipe and roll over the canes of glass each a unique striping for the bead. Some beads are straight striped, some are spiral and may then be shaped into balls and teardrop shapes. In modern times the glass created though the 1950s is considered one of the most sought after.
In the late 20th century, the problem of counterfeiting Murano Glass entered the market. Asia was making replicas of the glassware, vases and millefiore, a process where buy an image is placed into the glass rod itself and then becoming part of the blown bead, Prior to 1849, it was called mosaic. Millefiori in Murano beads always contain a very distinctive flower pattern.
In response the Promovetro, or glassmakers consortium, came up with a Murano trademark, a lilac sticker that displays a cana de soffio or glass blowers pipe and the Italian words, Artistic Glass Murano so that it is difficult to copy. This was registered with the European Union.
In 2003 it was necessary for the city of Venice to once again make a new Trademark designed by the French artist, Mathieu Thibautto. This allowed for Murano glass stay exclusive and making counterfeits lacking in the quality and history that Murano glass beads have come to represent.
Beth Guide is the webmaster for Faith-Full.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Guide
Who links to me?
Murano Italy, a small town north of Venice, has set the world standard for glasswork and beads, including Murano Rosary Beads, making it the glass capital of the world,. Tracing back to the 9th century, Murano glass and beads have a long history. The artwork, innovation and craftsmanship have grown in tradition through the centuries.
Murano was a large port, along with Venice allowing it to use the glass as a trading staple with its is Asian and African neighbors. One of the earliest uses and stories was about how glass was blown into the shape of bottles dating back as far as 1083 and elevated to the glass capital of the world in the 13th century.
In the 1930s there was a distinctive shift in Murano Glass, lead by Ermanno Toso. He changed the focus of the items made to a more modern theme. Murano glass and the island itself has withstood the test of two world wars, and in the 40s was reinvigorated post World War II, making the 1950s one of the more artistically memorable sets of years. Among the artist techniques employed, glass blowers used the technique called filigrana, where the glass blower takes the glass blowing pipe and roll over the canes of glass each a unique striping for the bead. Some beads are straight striped, some are spiral and may then be shaped into balls and teardrop shapes. In modern times the glass created though the 1950s is considered one of the most sought after.
In the late 20th century, the problem of counterfeiting Murano Glass entered the market. Asia was making replicas of the glassware, vases and millefiore, a process where buy an image is placed into the glass rod itself and then becoming part of the blown bead, Prior to 1849, it was called mosaic. Millefiori in Murano beads always contain a very distinctive flower pattern.
In response the Promovetro, or glassmakers consortium, came up with a Murano trademark, a lilac sticker that displays a cana de soffio or glass blowers pipe and the Italian words, Artistic Glass Murano so that it is difficult to copy. This was registered with the European Union.
In 2003 it was necessary for the city of Venice to once again make a new Trademark designed by the French artist, Mathieu Thibautto. This allowed for Murano glass stay exclusive and making counterfeits lacking in the quality and history that Murano glass beads have come to represent.
Beth Guide is the webmaster for Faith-Full.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Guide
Who links to me?
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Discover Trollbeads Murano Glass Beads
Article By Louise Rogers
The Murano glass beads in Trollbeads jewelry are what give Trollbeads distinction among all other collectable bead jewelry. The Trollbeads Murano glass bead collection includes over 130 different styles. These exquisite beads are made by hand and are crafted using a century's old method called lampworking. Glass beads are born from of glass tubes or rods that are super-heated and shaped and designed while softened by the flame of a torch.
Lampworking is a type of glasswork that uses a torch that is fueled by a mixture of gases (usually by a propane and oxygen mixture). The colorful glass rods range are generally created for lampworkers in Murano, Italy; and come in an incredible array of colors - transparent or opaque - as well as clear. The lampworker melts the glass rods and mixes, twists, turns and molds the molten creation into miniature works of art. The torch is used to melt rods of colored and clear glass. Once the glass is in a molten state it can formed into a bead by shaping with various tools and hand movements. When studying the beauty of the Trollbeads' Murano glass beads, take a moment to appreciate the efforts involved in each creation. Each bead has its own combination of chemical combinations, colors and shaping.
Lampworking is also known as "flameworking" or "torchworking," as the modern art form no longer uses oil-fueled lamps. This art form has been around since ancient times but made its historical mark in Murano, Italy where it was widely practiced in the 14th century. The early lampworking was done with a flame of an oil lamp, where the artisan would blow air into the flame through a pipe. Most artists today, including the Trollbeads' artists, use torches that burn either natural gas, or a mixture of propane and oxygen. It was not until the 20th Century that lampworking was acknowledged as a serious art form. German artist Hans Gobo Frabel, who had been trained in scientific glassblowing, began creating large pieces of art glass made in the lampworking process. Lampworking can be done with many types of glass, but the most common are soda-lime glass, also known as soft glass; and borosilicate glass, which is also known as hard glass. Different colors of glass must be carefully selected for compatibility with other colors. The way in which any possible chemical reaction with each is used can alter the desired end result. All glass reacts by measuring its' the "Coefficient of Expansion" (or "COE"). When combined incorrectly, the piece will suffer a breakdown and shatter.
Trollbeads uses twisted canes and stringers and they mix bases of whites, opaques and transparent glass rods with ease and flair.
Glass Trollbeads are all hand-wound on mandrels, with diamond-bit cleaned holes, and then each is hand-fitted with silver tubing which is carefully flared to create the center cores. There is no glue involved, as each core is hand-measured and carefully "hammered" (usually the finishing does require a certain amount of "hand" hammering) solidly into place. These are not rivets that are placed in each side and glued into place- which is a common misconception. Trollbeads are fitted with a silver core tube that conforms to a standard of 4-5mm in the center.
All Trollbeads' creations are kiln-annealed to ensure that they can sustain life-long enjoyment. Trollbeads' often uses silver mesh (such as that seen in the new "Silver Trace" beads), silver wire (as in the new bead, "Milky Way"), gold and silver leaf and foil, etching (such as the retired "sand" beads), and some even incorporate the use of incredibly beautiful dicroic glass.
This quick primer on the art of lampworking will help enhance the collectors understanding and respect of the effort involved in creating all of the Trollbeads Murano glass beads. Take a look at the beads, whether on your bracelet or on line at www.trollbeadsgallery.com and consider the elements that have gone into each creation. History, raw glass, fuel, training, talent and dedication has all gone into making Trollbeads Murano glass beads the honor of being the best in the market today.
Louise Rogers is a 30 year veteran in retail. She owns and manages 3 retail stores and has an on line business selling Trollbeads Jewelry. Louise has acted as a consultant to retailers who are looking to brand their products and their name and has consulted in the field of marketing and display. Louise has written other articles on retail ans has been written about in Fortune Small Business Magazine, a CNN publication.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Rogers
Lampworking is a type of glasswork that uses a torch that is fueled by a mixture of gases (usually by a propane and oxygen mixture). The colorful glass rods range are generally created for lampworkers in Murano, Italy; and come in an incredible array of colors - transparent or opaque - as well as clear. The lampworker melts the glass rods and mixes, twists, turns and molds the molten creation into miniature works of art. The torch is used to melt rods of colored and clear glass. Once the glass is in a molten state it can formed into a bead by shaping with various tools and hand movements. When studying the beauty of the Trollbeads' Murano glass beads, take a moment to appreciate the efforts involved in each creation. Each bead has its own combination of chemical combinations, colors and shaping.
Lampworking is also known as "flameworking" or "torchworking," as the modern art form no longer uses oil-fueled lamps. This art form has been around since ancient times but made its historical mark in Murano, Italy where it was widely practiced in the 14th century. The early lampworking was done with a flame of an oil lamp, where the artisan would blow air into the flame through a pipe. Most artists today, including the Trollbeads' artists, use torches that burn either natural gas, or a mixture of propane and oxygen. It was not until the 20th Century that lampworking was acknowledged as a serious art form. German artist Hans Gobo Frabel, who had been trained in scientific glassblowing, began creating large pieces of art glass made in the lampworking process. Lampworking can be done with many types of glass, but the most common are soda-lime glass, also known as soft glass; and borosilicate glass, which is also known as hard glass. Different colors of glass must be carefully selected for compatibility with other colors. The way in which any possible chemical reaction with each is used can alter the desired end result. All glass reacts by measuring its' the "Coefficient of Expansion" (or "COE"). When combined incorrectly, the piece will suffer a breakdown and shatter.
Trollbeads uses twisted canes and stringers and they mix bases of whites, opaques and transparent glass rods with ease and flair.
Glass Trollbeads are all hand-wound on mandrels, with diamond-bit cleaned holes, and then each is hand-fitted with silver tubing which is carefully flared to create the center cores. There is no glue involved, as each core is hand-measured and carefully "hammered" (usually the finishing does require a certain amount of "hand" hammering) solidly into place. These are not rivets that are placed in each side and glued into place- which is a common misconception. Trollbeads are fitted with a silver core tube that conforms to a standard of 4-5mm in the center.
All Trollbeads' creations are kiln-annealed to ensure that they can sustain life-long enjoyment. Trollbeads' often uses silver mesh (such as that seen in the new "Silver Trace" beads), silver wire (as in the new bead, "Milky Way"), gold and silver leaf and foil, etching (such as the retired "sand" beads), and some even incorporate the use of incredibly beautiful dicroic glass.
This quick primer on the art of lampworking will help enhance the collectors understanding and respect of the effort involved in creating all of the Trollbeads Murano glass beads. Take a look at the beads, whether on your bracelet or on line at www.trollbeadsgallery.com and consider the elements that have gone into each creation. History, raw glass, fuel, training, talent and dedication has all gone into making Trollbeads Murano glass beads the honor of being the best in the market today.
Louise Rogers is a 30 year veteran in retail. She owns and manages 3 retail stores and has an on line business selling Trollbeads Jewelry. Louise has acted as a consultant to retailers who are looking to brand their products and their name and has consulted in the field of marketing and display. Louise has written other articles on retail ans has been written about in Fortune Small Business Magazine, a CNN publication.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Rogers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Link Within
