Page 24 - Heirloom-Treasures-March-2024

Lot No. 17
A FINE FLORAL DESIGN MURANO
GLASS CHANDELIER

A central shaft supporting eight storm shades with
arched arms, decorated with flower buds.

Size: 42 x 36 x 36 in (106.7 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm)
Medium: Glass
Circa: Mid 20th century
` 8,00,000 - 12,00,000 | $ 9,877 - 14,815
Provenance: Property from an important Parsi
collection based in Mumbai.

For ages, the famous island of Murano in Venice, Italy
has been home to some of the greatest glassblowers
in history, and is considered by many to be the most
influential glassmaking hub. As a matter of fact,
Venetian glass has been popular since time immemorial
for its decorative style and vibrant colours, making a
name for itself throughout the world. While these famed
glass objects were manufactured on the mainland for a
large part of history, a rise in fires around Venice due to
the furnaces raised alarm. Since most Venetians lived Bottom view
in houses made predominantly of wood at the time,
the fires were often uncontrollable and created panic.
This prompted the ‘Doge’ of Venice - Pietro Gradenigo
- to issue an order to relocate the industry to Murano
island. All glassmakers residing in Venice then moved to
Murano and remained there exclusively.

To keep the trade exclusive and discourage the spread
of the secrets behind this high-quality glass, the
makers would also require permits to leave the island.
This concentration of world- renowned masters of the
craft led to an exponential growth with regards to their
knowledge, skills and experimentation. This also led to
many important discoveries in the art of glassmaking
including the invention of the world’s first truly clear
glass - ‘Cristallo Veneziano’ - by Master Angelo Barovier.
The designs too evolved rapidly, with the creation of
works such as the ‘Ciocce’, the Murano glass flowered
chandelier, and the ‘Rezzonico’ chandelier that was
composed of several hundred handmade pieces. Closer
to the 1800s, the designs of Venetian blown glass
became more complex and intricate. The technical
abilities and accuracy in the process resulted in the area
receiving discerning and curious visitors from across
the globe. The exquisite craftsmanship, vivid hues and
innovation all contribute to Murano glass being one of
the most sought-after glass artworks in the world.