Reminiscing about Venice

While I was browsing the web I came across these two videos of Venice that started me reminiscing about Venice and what I great time I had there last year. It really is the city of love. The views are so breathtaking! I am sure you will enjoy the videos as much as I did!

Around Venice

Another video taken around Venice

Murano Glass Masters pay homage to Picasso

Pablo Picasso

The artist that we know as Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, a city in the Andalusia region of Spain, on 25 October 1881. 

The child-prodigy, Picasso, was artistically gifted early in life. His mother remembered that his first word was ‘piz’ which is a shortened version of the Spanish word ‘lapis’ (pencil). Picasso is one of the most recognized figures in the 20th Century art.

Head of a Woman, 1960
by Pablo Picasso

I love this quote by Pablo Picasso!

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." 

The Murano Glass Masters were so inspired by Pablo Picasso that many of them create Murano glass sculptures that have beautiful shades of colors which allows you to get a unique effect of light bouncing off the Murano glass.

Homage to Picasso by
Vetreria Artistica Colleoni

Murano glass of the faces of Picasso

Homage to Picasso by
the master at Colleoni

Murano glass, Picasso style oversized vase

Murano glass, Picasso piece by
Christoph Kiefhaber

Murano glass, Picasso piece by
a master glass artisan

Murano glass Picasso, Women's head

Murano Glass perfume bottles

In ancient times perfume was exclusively used by the upper class and the rich.  


Nowadays most women have an extensive collection of perfumes and fragrances. Perfume has become an essential part of our lives, so that many of us women, will not step out of the house without first dabbing a few drops of our favorite scent.

It has been documented that a great deal of aesthetic imagination and thought was put into the manufacturing of the perfume containers. This has evolved into an art and perfume can be found in containers from the simplest to the most intricately designed bottles. Glass bottles are the main storage containers for perfume.

Seguso Murano amber sommerso
art glass perfume bottle

Here are a few Murano Glass perfume bottles that are very eye catching. A few of these Murano Glass bottles will beautify your dressing table quite nicely.

Murano Glass Perfume Bottles
in shades of Fall

Hand Decorated Murano Glass
Spray Perfume Bottles

Hand Decorated Murano Glass
Murrina-Capped Perfume

Handmade Murano Glass perfume bottle

Murano Glass Perfume Bottle - Lapis and Gold

Murano Glass Round Perfume Bottle Aqua

Murano glass perfume bottle

Murrina perfume bottles

Tall Murano Glass Perfume
Bottle with Atomizer

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 clocks

8 Ball Swirl Neon Wall clock

You cannot help but admire the Murano glass artisans. Their artistic ability as well as their ability to manipulate glass into various shapes and objects is amazing. They have made an international name for themselves by fine tuning their trade and producing beautiful and innovative pieces. 

Millefiori Murano Glass Alarm Clock

I have come across these wall and table top clocks that are quite innovative. They each tell their own story through color and design. 

Murano Glass Blue Mosaic Wall Clock

 

A video showcasing the Murano glass lampwork technique

It is always fascinating to watch the Murano glass Master Artisans at work. Here is a video showcasing the lampwork technique.

Construction of the Venetian Butterfly pendant using the lampworking technique

Happy Easter!

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. It is the celebration of the mystery that is the basis of the Christian faith.


Easter celebrations began in A.D. 325 when the Nicean Council decided that Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon after the Spring Equinox. Unless the first full moon also rose on a Sunday, in which Easter would be celebrated on the Sunday after that. For over 1500 years we have continued to mark the celebration of Easter based on these calculations.

The Easter Egg is one of the most significant symbols of Easter. There are many modern, vintage and antique Murano glass Easter egg ornaments on the market.  

Murano glass Easter eggs can be solid glass, hollow or cut in half to form a dish or holder.

Since the egg shape is a good one to hold candy and other foods, many manufacturers of glass have made serving dishes in an egg shape for Easter.

Venetian Carnival

According to Venetians and tourists; the Venetian Carnival is a festival not to be missed!

The Venetian Carnival is one of the most ancient, grandest, charming and famous of all Venetian festivals. 

It is a voyage of discovery into a fantastic and mysterious world made of music and theater, where people from all over the world, can experience the traditions of masks and the playing of hide and seek! 

The streets are filled with noise and color as acrobats, jugglers and street artists weave their way between crowds of people in elaborate costumes.

The Venetian Carnival began in the 15th century however the tradition can be traced back to the beginning of the 14th century. It spans over two weeks ending on Shrove Tuesday, the day preceding Ash Wednesday. This year the carnival was from the 11th - 21st February and in 2013 the carnival will be from 2nd - 12th February.

Venetian masks range from simple elegance to the elaborate. The designs are only limited by your imagination!

Fanning Venetian mask

Farfalla Burano Strass Blue Moon Mask

Feathered Mask

 

Elegantly shaped half mask

 

Venetian ball mask