Unveiling the Magic of Murano Glass
While we currently are only selling art glassworks in our Lago Luna Gallery, future plans are to add it to our Lago Luna Originals online store. In the meantime, I hope to whet your appetite with a bit of history about this amazing craft… Marc Staples
Have you ever looked at a beautiful piece of Murano glass and wondered how it's made? It's more than just art—it's a world over seven centuries old, forged in fire and passed down through generations.
The story starts way back in 1291. To prevent Venice from burning down, all the city's glass furnaces were moved to the nearby island of Murano. From that point on, the craft blossomed, with artisans developing a unique identity, tools, and techniques that have been refined over centuries.
Behind every piece of glass is a world of sweat, quick and precise hand movements, and a dance between intense heat and cool water. It's a place where patience and speed are equally important, where masters and apprentices work side-by-side, sharing secrets and stories that have been shaped by long hours and a shared love for the craft.
The Secret Recipe: What is a "Partìa"?
At the heart of this ancient magic is something called the "partìa," a precise blend of raw materials. This isn't just a recipe; it's the foundation for almost limitless color possibilities.
Here are the four essential ingredients:
Silica sand: This is the main component. On its own, it would require a crazy high melting temperature of around 1,750°C (3,182°F), which is nearly impossible to work with.
Soda: This is the secret ingredient for bringing down the heat. It lowers the melting point to a more manageable 1,400°C (2,552°F) or less.
Calcium carbonate: This is added to prevent the glass from becoming cloudy or matte. It keeps everything crystal clear.
Rinse aid (antimony): This helps clean the glass mixture and get rid of tiny imperfections.
To get all those incredible colors, artisans add metal oxides to the basic mix. Each oxide creates a different hue: cadmium for yellow, selenium for red, cobalt for blue, and copper for green. A mix of oxides can even create a completely new color, like orange from cadmium and selenium, or purple from manganese.
The Heart of It All: The First Fusion
The melting process is the core of the Murano tradition. Even with all the modern advancements in science and tools, the fundamental process has stayed the same for centuries. It’s a remarkable dance of old traditions and new knowledge.
The process begins with special metal crucibles that hold the glass mixture. These come in different sizes, with the largest known as a "Palato." These crucibles can’t just be thrown into the furnace; they have to be carefully "seasoned" by gradually increasing the heat over about a week until they can handle temperatures of up to 1,400°C.
Back in the day, placing the large Palato crucible into the furnace was a tough job called "Calada," requiring several people and special tools. Now, artisans use glassy rocks that melt slowly, allowing the crucible to gently settle onto the bottom of the furnace.
Another cool trick is called "Invariatura," where a layer of glass is applied to the inside of the crucible walls. This creates a protective coating that helps the metal container withstand the extreme heat.
Finally, it's time for the "First fusion." Before melting the new mixture, artisans add a special ingredient: "Rottura." This is a fancy name for recycled glass scraps from previous projects. Adding these scraps helps the new mixture melt more easily. After the first melt, a small amount of Rottura is always left in the crucible, so it’s ready for the next batch.
It's amazing to think that every piece of Murano glass is born from this incredible tradition—a blend of art, chemistry, and centuries of hands-on knowledge.
Lago Luna Metal Art Studio and Gallery
Buffalo Junction, Virginia
Have you ever looked at a beautiful piece of Murano glass and wondered how it's made? It's more than just art—it's a world over seven centuries old, forged in fire and passed down through generations.
The story starts way back in 1291. To prevent Venice from burning down, all the city's glass furnaces were moved to the nearby island of Murano. From that point on, the craft blossomed, with artisans developing a unique identity, tools, and techniques that have been refined over centuries.
Behind every piece of glass is a world of sweat, quick and precise hand movements, and a dance between intense heat and cool water. It's a place where patience and speed are equally important, where masters and apprentices work side-by-side, sharing secrets and stories that have been shaped by long hours and a shared love for the craft.
The Secret Recipe: What is a "Partìa"?
At the heart of this ancient magic is something called the "partìa," a precise blend of raw materials. This isn't just a recipe; it's the foundation for almost limitless color possibilities.
Here are the four essential ingredients:
Silica sand: This is the main component. On its own, it would require a crazy high melting temperature of around 1,750°C (3,182°F), which is nearly impossible to work with.
Soda: This is the secret ingredient for bringing down the heat. It lowers the melting point to a more manageable 1,400°C (2,552°F) or less.
Calcium carbonate: This is added to prevent the glass from becoming cloudy or matte. It keeps everything crystal clear.
Rinse aid (antimony): This helps clean the glass mixture and get rid of tiny imperfections.
To get all those incredible colors, artisans add metal oxides to the basic mix. Each oxide creates a different hue: cadmium for yellow, selenium for red, cobalt for blue, and copper for green. A mix of oxides can even create a completely new color, like orange from cadmium and selenium, or purple from manganese.
The Heart of It All: The First Fusion
The melting process is the core of the Murano tradition. Even with all the modern advancements in science and tools, the fundamental process has stayed the same for centuries. It’s a remarkable dance of old traditions and new knowledge.
The process begins with special metal crucibles that hold the glass mixture. These come in different sizes, with the largest known as a "Palato." These crucibles can’t just be thrown into the furnace; they have to be carefully "seasoned" by gradually increasing the heat over about a week until they can handle temperatures of up to 1,400°C.
Back in the day, placing the large Palato crucible into the furnace was a tough job called "Calada," requiring several people and special tools. Now, artisans use glassy rocks that melt slowly, allowing the crucible to gently settle onto the bottom of the furnace.
Another cool trick is called "Invariatura," where a layer of glass is applied to the inside of the crucible walls. This creates a protective coating that helps the metal container withstand the extreme heat.
Finally, it's time for the "First fusion." Before melting the new mixture, artisans add a special ingredient: "Rottura." This is a fancy name for recycled glass scraps from previous projects. Adding these scraps helps the new mixture melt more easily. After the first melt, a small amount of Rottura is always left in the crucible, so it’s ready for the next batch.
It's amazing to think that every piece of Murano glass is born from this incredible tradition—a blend of art, chemistry, and centuries of hands-on knowledge.
Lago Luna Metal Art Studio and Gallery
Buffalo Junction, Virginia
