| The artistic decorative glass products are shaped | | | | tradition comes from the colonial times, when |
| of liquid glass. This liquidity allows an artist to | | | | green glass house ware was produced. Currently, |
| create various, rich in shape products-real pieces | | | | there are a lot of individual artists, and the art in |
| of art. Glass can be called a medium for artists. | | | | glass is practiced and taught in the universities. |
| It is impossible to talk about decorative art glass | | | | Beginning in the 19th century, a variety of |
| without mentioning the Murano glassmaking | | | | extravagant glass items started to become an |
| history. Their tradition of precision in glassworks is | | | | important part of the decorative art. Particularly |
| maintained since the 13th century. Due to its | | | | significant impact on development of decorative |
| uniqueness Murano glass is often referred to as | | | | glass had the Art Nouveau movement. The |
| "cristallo". | | | | members produced coloured pieces, often in |
| There are two opinions on how Murano, the island | | | | cameo glass (a form of glass art involving etching |
| in the Venetian Lagoon became a centre of | | | | and carving through fused layers of differently |
| glassmaking. It is being said that in 1291 the | | | | coloured glass; the main characteristic are white |
| Venetian Republic, fearing that fire used by | | | | figures carved on black background), as well as |
| glassmakers might burn down Venice's wood | | | | using the lustre technique. |
| buildings, ordered its glass artists to move their | | | | With the 20th century came an era of |
| foundries to Murano. This way the glassmakers | | | | revolutionary technology. Machines were |
| became the noblest citizens of this island. Another, | | | | developed which replaced traditional mouth blowing |
| more frequently suggested opinion, is that the | | | | with a semi-automatic process, and transformed |
| move was made to isolate the glassblowing | | | | the craft into an industry. A new mould-etch |
| masters and prevent them from sharing their | | | | process was invented which allowed to reduce |
| knowledge with foreigners. Glass making became | | | | manufacturing costs. This led to cheap glassware |
| a trade exclusively for those born on the island of | | | | in the 1930s, later called "Depression glass". |
| Murano, and whoever glassmaker left the | | | | Classical man-made glassblowing maintaining the |
| Venetian State was condemned to death as a | | | | tradition and knowledge of ancient glassblowers |
| traitor. | | | | became an art. Today's glassblower still utilizes the |
| In the 1400s, the Italian island of Murano became | | | | basic blowpipe, but now they have a vast number |
| the centre of glass luxury. Many new glass | | | | of supplementary tools to aid in working the |
| making techniques were developed there and | | | | material. |
| Murano played a main role in the export trade of | | | | Here are the most common techniques to |
| dinnerware, mirrors and other luxurious items. A | | | | produce glass art: |
| distinguishing feature of glass pieces made by | | | | - blowing: a glassblower works at a furnace full of |
| Venetians was their content and a technique of | | | | molten glass using metal rods and hand tools to |
| making. Local quartz pebbles were almost pure | | | | blow and shape almost any form of glass; |
| silica ground into clear sand and combined with | | | | - kiln-casting: can be done at the furnace at the |
| soda ash obtained from the Levant. | | | | torch or in a kiln; generally the artist makes a |
| The contemporary Venetian glass art flourished in | | | | mould out of refractory, sand, or plaster and silica |
| the 50ths and 60ths of the 20th century. Murano | | | | which can be filled with either clear glass or |
| is still a Mecca for artists and glass lovers. The | | | | coloured or patterned glass; |
| Murano School remains one of the most | | | | - fusing, slumping: usually glass is only heated |
| important in the world, and the art of | | | | enough to impress a shape or a texture onto the |
| glassmaking, just like centuries ago is still handed | | | | piece, or to stick several pieces of glass together |
| down from father to son. | | | | without glue; |
| However, not only the Italians became famous of | | | | - flame working: the artist generally works at a |
| their glass making skills. It is worth to mention | | | | bench using rods and tubes of glass, shaping with |
| that the Czech Republic Region of Bohemia and | | | | hand tools to create their work; |
| Moravia is a significant source of European glass | | | | - hot sculpting; |
| making traditions. From the earliest days, the | | | | - cold-working; |
| Czechs were setting tone in European and world | | | | The most common glass objects include vessels |
| art of glass making. | | | | such as bowls, vases, bottles, etc. as well as |
| The United States are famous for making artistic | | | | paperweights, beads, sculptures and installation art. |
| glass items as well. The American glassworks | | | | |