Murano Glass Sculptures

Murano glass is a famous product of the Venetian island of Murano. Located off the shore of Venice, Italy, Murano has been a commercial port since as far back as the 7th century. By the 10th century, the city had become well known for its glassmakers, who created unique Murano glass. The process of making Murano glass sculpture is rather complex. Most Murano glass art is made using the lampworking technique. The glass is made from silica (sand), which becomes liquid at high temperatures. As the glass passes from a liquid to a solid state, there is a point when the glass is soft, allowing the artisan to shape the material before it hardens completely. Murano glass sculpture is the modern use of glass as an artistic medium to produce sculptures or three-dimensional artworks. The glass objects created are intended to make a sculptural or decorative statement.