Murano Glasswork Technique

Different glassworks often create their own terms for a technique. Many terms are
used are in Italian, Venetian dialect or from a root word.

The glossary below introduces the principal processes and terms that have been widely
use:

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Aventurina Glass- also sometimes termed "avventurina" or "pasta stellaria"

The art of precipitating iridescent particles in glass. Copper or chrome usually is used and crystallized from the coloring agent used in the glass. The crystallizing process occurs during a lengthy cooling of the molten glass in a special glass vessel. The process was accidentally discovered about 1610-25.

Cristallo

Clear and pure colourless glass. Such process is achieved through de-coloring agents during the melting process in order to neutralize the effect of any residual contaminants.

Filigrana, Reticello, Retortoli Glass

A complex pattern produced by first preparing glass rods, which are then incorporated into the surface of a blown object. "Reticello" is when the threads are interwoven to form a grid. "Retortoli" is also called 'zanfico' in Murano. This is one of the most important technique invented in Murano during the Renaissance. It consists of 2 filaments ttwisted into a spiral.

Ghiaccio

A process that puts hot glass into cold water creating a finely crackled surface.

Incalmo

This is an ancient technique to join the glass into a single object. This craft requires a particular dexterity from the master perofmring it. The master will need to join separate blown elements together at the same diameter at the junction point while hot.

Lattimo

Opaque white glass, originally created to emulate Chinese porcelain in late fifteenth century, only about 100 years after Chinese porcelain was first imported into Europe. Tin oxide was added to the molten glass in order to produce the opacity and color. Calcium and sodium flourides were substituted in the later years. The word originates from "latte" (milk).

Millefiori

"A thousand flowers" is the direct translation in Italian. It is the technique of shaping multi-coloured rods, and cut the rod in thin slices and embedded them into glass. It is one of the oldest techniques that is still very popular today.

Murrine

A process of melting murrina plaques ("murrine") that have been prepared previously. This technique is one of the most versatile and widely-used techniques in glassmaking. 

Opalino

Partly translucent milky-white glass created by adding lead arsenate to the molten glass.

Pulegoso

Translucent glass containing bubbles ("puleghe" in dialect of Murano). This effect is caused by adding a polluting agent such as kerosene into the hot glass upon combustion. 

Sommerso

Thick glass produced by blowing multi-layers of different colored glass within each other. An alternative technique is to dip a blown object into molten glass or to pour molten glass onto the object.