The magic of decorative glass all started in the 1450s when Venetian decorative glass products were exported to other European countries. In the 13th century, Venetian glass masters started to design glass products with animal and human figures, coats of arms, flowers, and other ornaments. The Venetians produced complex designs of glass by applying divers patterns and different types of moulds to decorate their glassware. Using slices of canes, they created the distinctive ‘glasses with threads’, ‘glasses with twisted threads’ and ‘glasses with a netlike pattern of threads’. But this did not deter the European glass makers from imitating their style.
Like many other sophisticated goods from the olden days, the decorative glass merchandise was not exempted from societal and economic class structures. In many countries, glassware like Venetian glass was reserved for the rich and nobles who used the products for special events or as decorative pieces. While in Venice, anyone could buy the Venetian decorative glass, in Europe a Venetian glass product was “a sign of wealth and sophistication”. Historians have discovered that Venetian-styled glass products in England were limited to the upper-class. Glass orders came predominantly from upper-class groups because they could easily access and afford them. The rich saw decorative glass products as a work of art rather than mere glassware. The lower class saw it as luxury they could not afford.
Monarchs provided financial aid and legal support for glass makers to establish factories and import skilled Venetian makers. To return the favour to their “Kings and Queens”, glass masters made decorative glass objects and presented them to the monarchs and presidents. As years went by, however, England’s glass masters started to create cheaper objects that the middle-class could afford. Today, authentic Venetian style glassware can be easily accessed by anyone. Anyone can buy Venetian glassware and transform their homes into a place of royalty. Venetian glass décor options includes mirrors, pitchers, cups, wine glasses, goblets, candleholders, sculptures, vases, chandeliers, wall lamps, table lamps paperweights and many other decorative objects.
Venetian glass objects are typically expensive because they are handmade. However, cheaper manufacturers have machines they used to create façon de Venise (“in the manner of Venise”) glassware. To find an authentic Venetian style, buy from trusted dealers only. You can purchase a single object which you can use for display in your home or start a collection of authentic Venetian style decorative glass objects. To find out more about the power of glass to transform your home, contact the friendly experts at Palace of Glass.