Directions, map and couponArt glass Glossary
This is a small guide to understand the descriptions of the items exhibited in our website and in general the venetian art glassware.
AVVENTURINA GLASS. One of the most popular murano glass often
used for vases, paperweights and several other objects. It's a
glass with gilded appearance containing micro particles of
copper. It may be natural sparkly copper colour or may be
colored; very nice the red or the dark blue avventurina.
Blowing this glass is very difficult and the name "avventurina"
means that working this material is considered like a "ventura".
CRISTALLO/CRISTALLINO. Venetian glass is a very clear and pure
colourless glass.
FILIGRANA, RETICELLO, RETORTOLI GLASS. This murano glass is
formed by colorless rods, inside of which coloured or opaque
white threads are enclosed. They are called "reticello" when the
threads are interwoven so to form a grid, inside of whose
lozenges a small air bubble forms. Glass is called "a retorti"
or "retortoli" when threads twist as a spiral. This is one of
the most ancient workings, having been used already in the
sixteenth century. Probably the most famous Murano glass
technique, it may be considered the symbol of the venetian glass,
expecially when applied on the classic venetian goblet
FILO. Decoration made by applying a thread - which can be of
various thicknesses and colors - usually on the upper rim or on
the base of objects such as vases, cups or glasses.
INCISO/BATTUTO/VELATO. "COLD WORK". Finishing techniques applied
to the surface of the glass executed with a grinding wheel. The
incision may be executed with various depths. When the incision
is large and flat it's called beating, hammered, "battuto".
Instead a very sft grinding to obtain a glazed surface is called
"velato". This kind of surface finishing was used by some of the
best contemporary artists and Murano masters as Carlo Scarpa,
Alfredo Barbini, Lino Tagliapietra, Davide
Salvadore.
INCALMO. This is an ancient glass technique requiring a
particular dexterity from the master performing it. It allows to
obtain objects formed by parts blown one at a time, usually of
different colors, and then warm joint together, and shaped so
to obtain the wished form. This expensive technique is applied on
the classic venetian goblets as on contemporary art glass
vessels and vases.
LATTIMO. Opaque white glass produced for the first time in
Murano towards the half of the fifteenth century, imitating
china-pieces. At that time it was used particularly for
manufacturing objects decorated with multicolored enamels.
MASSICCIO. The "massiccio" glass is shaping while still
malleable with the help of tools and/or molds, but without
blowing. Often this process is used for thick glass sculptures.
MORISE. The "morise" working consists in warm applying a thread
or small cord worked with pliers, so to obtain a serpentine.
MURRINE. Glass formed by sections of various multicolored glass
rods, which are placed so to form a pre-arranged drawing, and
then melted together. This technique was already known in Egypt
between the third and the first century B.C. It's now one of the
most known murano glass, used in several different object, from
the entry level giftware up to artworks of the best masters. "Millefiori"
is often used as common name (with a wrong definition).
OPALINE. Partly semitransparent milky-white glass changing
colors depending on the impact of the light.
ORO. Decoration obtained by warm applying a small golden foil
onto the glass being yet not-shaped. This foil can be put
outside or sunk inside.
PEA. It is the small glass ball prepared by the master, from
which every hollow glass object takes origin.
PASTA. Often called "pasta vitrea", it's an opaque colored glass
whose consistency is made to appears similar to ceramic.
PIAZZA. It denotes a team forming one production unit being able
to autonomously execute all working phases, which are necessary
to manufacture an object. The "glass master" is the responsible
for the entire team.
PULEGOSO. Translucent glass that is identified by a countless
number bubbles ("puleghe" in dialect of Murano)
contained in the glass, obtained by chemical reaction during the
heating process.
RIGADIN RITORTO. Glass blown by using a mould, so to obtain thin
ribs which - at warm condition - undergo a light torsion. Often
used on blown glass as venetian goblets and vases.
SOMMERSO. Artistic glass covered by another layer of glass by
superimposing two or more colors immersing the object in
various pots of molten glass.. The first "Sunk Glasses" were
produced in Murano during the second half of the Thirties to
became very popular in the Fifties. Often this technique is used
to produce murano glass vases and artistic sculptures.
STAMPO. Wooden or iron tool into which glass is blown, when
wishing to mould the material in a particular way. Among the
most used moulds, there are those to obtain blown glass with
vertical lines and the balloton.
