10% off Murano glass jewellery for Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is just around the corner! Can you believe it! 


I cannot believe how quick the months are passing by. The quote "Time flies" is very apt in my life at the moment!


So for all the last minute shoppers, like myself, you are probably wrecking your brains on the perfect gift for your mother. Well, look no further than DeVigniDesigns! Which mother would not love a piece of jewellery, especially if it is Murano glass imported directly from the island, Murano, off the Venetian Lagoon in Italy.


Take advantage of this special offer which is valid until the 4th May 2012 and while stocks last. Don't miss out on this great offer!

Murano Glass Heart Pendant 30x30x10mm

with cotton cord (50cm), entirely handmade 

by Murano Master glassmaker with the 

"lampwork" technique"

Cost: ZAR130.00 each

  

18mm Murano Glass Millefiori Pendant

Pendant only, Sterling Silver 925/000 rim 

& clasp, 18mm in diameter

Cost: ZAR132.00 each

23mm Murano Glass Millefiori Pendant

Pendant only, Sterling Silver 925/000 rim 

& clasp, 23mm in diameter

Cost: ZAR173.00 each

26mm Murano Glass Millefiori Pendant

Pendant only, Sterling Silver 925/000 rim 

& clasp, 26mm in diameter

Cost: ZAR190.00 each

32mm Murano Glass Millefiori Pendant

Pendant only, Sterling Silver 925/000 rim 

& clasp, 32mm in diameter

Cost: ZAR223.00 each

The offer is valid until the 4th May 2012 and while stocks last. Don't miss out on this great offer!

Interesting Facts about Murano!

Map of Murano, Venice

Murano is the most famous of the Venetian islands. Murano was founded between the 5th and the 7th century. It is a suburb of Venice, Italy and is also known as the island “of the flames”. The island is 1,134 acres (459 hectares) in size.

St Mark's Church

It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get to Murano from St Mark's Church on the main island of Venice with a vaporetto (water taxi). Murano is made up of 5 small islands in the Laguna Veneta (Lagoon of Venice).

Ponto Longo

There is only one bridge in Murano and it is called the "Ponto Longo". It was built in 1866 out of iron.

Glass furnace

The oldest preserved evidence for the existence of the glass blower dates back to 982 and is found in Venice's archives. Murano experienced major development after 1291, when glass furnaces were moved there from Venice. From the late 13th century it was the center of the Venetian glass industry, which reached a peak in the 16th century and was revived in the 19th century by Antonio Salviati.

Glass factory

Glass blowers were prohibited from emigrating from Venice with the threat of confiscation of their property. Secret glass making recipe books are passed down from fathers to sons in glass making families.

Murano Glass masterpieces

Venetian glass masters create handmade masterpieces! A variety of products are made from Murano glass such as jewelry, household products including vases, chandeliers, ornaments, gifts and so much more! The uses for Murano glass is only limited to the artisan's imagination!

Murano Glass Horse

Murano Glass Chandelier

Murano Glass Heart Pendants

Murano Glass Lamp

Murano Glass Chandelier

Murano Glass Dolphin

Murano Glass Millefiori Pendants

Murano Glass Bottle Stopper

Murano Glass Millefiori Watch

Venice, The City of Love

Here are some photos that I took while on holiday in Venice as well as others. Travelling in Venice is like crossing over to a whole new world. A city built on water! It is so different from my home country, South Africa.

  

 Ciao

Claudia

Millefiori

Millefiori (thousand flowers) is the technique of stretching and shaping multi-coloured rods. Normally colours are added and a shape is introduced, then the molten glass is stretched until it produces a long thin cane of glass. 

This can be cut and used as beads 

or, for example, in the production of murrina jewelry.

 

The art of creating Murano Glass

The process of making Murano glass is rather complex. Most Murano glass art is made using the lampworking technique. The glass is made from silica, which becomes liquid at high temperatures. As the glass passes from a liquid to a solid state, there is an interval wherein the glass is soft before it hardens completely, allowing the artisan to shape the material.

What’s in a name?

I have had quite a few people ask me “Why did you name your company DeVigniDesigns”?

Well this is briefly how DeVigniDesigns was born!

Brainstorming a name for a business was not as easy as I thought. Practically every name we thought of was taken! I wanted a business name that was unusual and had a special meaning. I made a checklist of my business attributes to try and help us. Some of our inspiration came from the following.

Selling jewelry and gifts                         = Design

Handmade, lamp work technique            = Artistic

Imported from Murano, Venice               = Italy

After much ado, my son, Chad thought of de Vigni.

DeVigniDesigns is thus named after Saint Catherine de Vigni, the patron saint of arts, who lived in Bologna, Italy. She was born on September 8, 1413, died on March 9, 1463 in Bologna, Italy due to a serious illness. She became a saint on May 22, 1712 by Pope Clement XI.

So in a nutshell, this is how DeVigniDesigns was born!

Ciao,

Claudia