Murano or Venetian Glass Jewellery

The glass beads that we use in our jewellery are sometimes also known as Venetian glass beads or Murano glass pearls. They are made by hand using a technique developed centuries ago. Silver or gold is layered around a clear glass core to create what the glassmakers call the ‘soul’ of the bead. They are then covered with coloured glass. The precious metal foil adds depth and shine. As they are made by hand, each glass bead is unique, both in its depth of colour, and the way it catches and reflects the light.

Glass making in Venice can be traced back to the 7th century. In 1291 all the glassmakers of the city were moved (for fear of fire) to the small island of Murano a mile away across the lagoon. Here the glassmaking industry developed rapidly, and its secrets were fiercely protected. A glassmaker who leaked secrets to foreigners, or tried to leave Venice without permission, would be punished harshly.

Murano glass is now the most highly prized in the world. The descendants of the families who moved to the island in the 13th century, craft objects of great beauty and value, using techniques developed over hundreds of years.

Venetian glass beads date back to the time of Marco Polo. He returned from China with a stock of beautiful beads of great value. The artisans of Venice immediately set out to reproduce them in glass. In the early 1700s the glassmakers developed techniques of adding metal to the beads to create extra sparkle and shine.