Venetian Glass

We slept in today and checked out of the hotel about 11. We were taken by water taxi to the Island of Murano to visit Fornace Mazzuccato (Muzzaccato Furnace). We were given a private show by a master glassmaker.

The glassmakers don't receive any formal training - it is a trade that is passed down from generation to generation. Usually fathers bring their young sons in and train them from an early age. To be considered a master glassmaker, you need at least 15 years experience. The master we saw today had 45 years of experience!
He even let me turn the glass in the furnace! He made 2 items during the demonstration - a simple vase and a glass horse (See photos).



The master made both items in about 5 minutes. It was so neat to see him create a beautiful horse from a ball of hot glass. He just pulled the glass with tongs and made legs, ears, a tail, etc. It was so amazing! He made it look so easy! It was an experience I'll always remember.

After the glass blowing demonstration, we were taken into a showroom that had the most amazing works of art. There were vases, glasses, sculptures, bowls, chandeliers, tea sets, basically anything that you could ever want made of glass. Jason said that for my birthday I could pick anything in the store. I felt like Reese Witherspoon in "Sweet Home Alabama". :) It was very shi shi - they even gave us a little Prosecco (Champagne) when they realized that we were there to shop for my birthday present and we all toasted.

We walked around the store for about an hour and I finally decided on a gorgeous bowl. It will be custom made by Master Costentino with 55 years experience. I chose a bowl with sculpted edges like the orange one in the picture and with the colors of the round bowl. The bowl will have gold filigree as the base color and then ribbons of amber, aquamarine, and silver around the outside. The pictures don't do it justice - it will be magnificent! I should receive it in about 4 weeks.

After we finished, they offered us a water taxi to the island of Burano where they make lace by hand. We took them up on it and left right from the dock. Here's a picture of us on the way to Burano. I have more to blog on the rest of our trip to Venice, but it will have to wait. I need to get ready now - I am going to visit Jason's plant and get a tour. Ciao!