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Italian glass collecting centres on Murano, with Altare and Empoli as separate traditions that should not be priced as if they were Venini. Murano is an island of many furnaces, not a trademark. A paper label or an acid-etched word Murano is easy to add and easy to remove. The useful vocabulary is the technique: cristallo, millefiori and murrine canes, sommerso layers, avventurina, filigrana and the incalmo joins associated with the mid-twentieth century. A documented piece agrees in colour, weight and finish with the furnace it claims. Venetian mirrors and chandeliers use the island’s glass, but the frame and the armature are furniture and lighting problems. Empoli’s green flasks and Altare’s Ligurian furnace work have their own shapes and their own later reproductions. These articles cover how the glass was made, the named makers and the checks that separate a workshop piece from a souvenir.
7 articles
Altare glass — Liguria's centuries-old tradition near Genoa. History, SAV cooperative, façon de Venise links, identification tips, and what collectors should know.
Discover Empoli glass — Tuscany's distinctive green verde ware from wine flasks to mid-century genie bottles. History, makers, identification tips for collectors.
From Venetian trade beads to millefiori jewelry: the history of Murano glass accessories, traditional techniques, and collecting tips.
Explained: millefiori, avventurina, sommerso, and lattimo — how each Murano technique is made, how to recognize it, and why it affects value.
Meet the legendary Murano glass artists and houses — Barovier, Venini, Seguso — their techniques, signature works, and collector value.
Step-by-step look at Murano glassmaking: furnace work, blowing, shaping, decoration, annealing, and what makes a piece truly handmade.
A complete guide to Murano glass: Venetian origins, filigree, millefiori and sommerso techniques, antique vs modern markers, and collector tips.