MILLEFIORI

FIRST, THERE IS THE MAKING OF THE MURRINA RODS. THE MOULDING OF THE RODS BEGINS BY TAKING A SMALL AMOUNT OF MURANO GLASS AT THE END OF A 1.5M. POLE. THIS IS DIPPED INTO VARIOUS POTS OF MOLTEN GLASS SO THAT THE MASS INCREASES AND BECOMES COMPOSED OF MULTI-COLOURED LAYERS. THIS MASS IS THEN SQUEEZED INTO STAR AND FLOWER-SHAPED MOULDS TO GIVE IT ITS FINAL FORM. A LAST LAYER OF GLASS KEEPS THE FORM IN SHAPE. THEN ANOTHER POLE IS ATTACHED TO THE END OF THE MASS.

VENETIAN GLASSMAKERS WALK IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, PULLING OUT THE MURANO GLASS INTO A LONG FINE ROD, USING ONLY THEIR EYES AND EXPERIENCE TO GUAGE THE RIGHT DIAMETER. THE RODS ARE THEN CUT INTO TINY MILLEFIORI BEADS.

THE BEADS ARE THEN PLACED INTO A COPPER FRAME TO MAKE A MOSAIC. THE COMPOSITION OF DIFFERENT SHAPES AND COLOURS IS DONE ENTIRELY BY HAND. THE WORK IS ONLY DONE BY ARTISANS WITH A LOT OF PATIENCE AND IMAGINATION, AS THEY ARE CONSTANTLY THINKING OF NEW PATTERNS AND DESIGNS TO PUT TOGETHER THE VAST RANGE OF COLOURS THAT ARE THE FEATURE OF THE MILLEFIORI TRADITION.

AFTER THIS, THE FRAMES ARE PUT INTO THE GLASS OVEN IN SPECIAL CONTAINERS AND LEFT OVERNIGHT, WHERE THE GLASS BEGINS TO MELT, INCREASING ITS THICKNESS. THE GLASS IS THEN GROUND AND CLEANED BY HAND AND THIS GRINDING AND CLEANING PROCESS TAKES APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR PER PIECE! THEN THE GLASS CAN BE USED TO MAKE THE BEAUTIFUL ITEMS WE ENJOY