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The Phonecian culture merged and mixed with the Hellenic culture, before the area was conqured by the Romans. Many Phonetician and Hellenic artisans were taken back to Rome as slaves, taking their glass making skills with them. The Romans brought mass production to glass making, in the 1st Century AD they started using metal tubes for glass blowing, making it quicker and easier than ever before to make glass objects. The increased demand led them to build kilns in coastal areas which were abundant in raw materials and fuel for making the raw glass. The raw glass was then taken by ships into the cities to be worked by the artisans. This lowered the cost of glass even more, making it available to the masses, and glass jewelry became an economic alternative to precious stones and metals.
With the fall of the the Roman Empire, Western Europe plunged into the dark ages. The production of fine glassware continued in Constantinople, capital of the former Eastern Empire, later know as the Byzantine Empire. The Venetian Republic gained its power and status in the same period. Constantinople was the largest and most important city in Europe at the time, and Western Europe was embroiled in Tribal battles and feudal systems. Venice was naturally positioned between the two worlds, allowing Venetian merchants to ply their trade along the Adriatic coasts and into the Eastern Mediterranean.
By the 11th Century Venice was one of the most important and rich city states in Europe, and, with Venetian Republic's help, in 1204 the Crusaders sacked Constantinople. Many artists and craftsmen fled to what is now Italy, especially Florence and Venice. Many historians believe that this was an event that helped trigger the Renaissance period, the rebirth of Western European culture. The Byzantine glass workers found a good home in Venice. The fine quality of the local sand, a fledging glass industry, and the flamboyant nature of the many wealthy families, made the city fertile ground for high quality artistic glasswork. Within a short time there was a thriving and expanding glass industry, goods not purchased locally were exported by the traders.
In 1291, the Grand Council of Venice forced the glassworkers to move out of the city, and encouraged them to settle on the nearby island of Murano. The official reason was the fire risk from the furnaces and kilns, but subsequent events suggest the real motive was part of a plan to build a center of excellence for glass working. The Venetians used their trading skills to establish a monopoly on quality soda ash from the middle east, combined with the high quartz Venetian sands it ensured they had the best materials. The Glass makers guild was given the highest possible status, it's members were allowed to wear swords and mix with nobility, but they were not allowed to leave the city and take their skills elsewhere.
As a result of these changes, by the 14th Century Murano had established itself as the principal glass making center of Europe, and enjoyed a virtual monopoly on artistic glass wares and glass jewelry. Throughout the 15th and 16th Centuries, Murano glass maintained it's dominant position. Most fine glassware in Europe came from Murano. It wasn't until the 17th Century that the situation started to change. Portugal, followed by Spain, Holland and England, had started to explore the new world, establishing colonies all over the globe. It was a situation that led to Venice losing much of it's importance as the traditional trading post between East and West, and the effects where also felt by the Murano glassmakers.
Venice's economy was more dependent on it's manufactured goods. Much effort was made to preserve the leading position of the Murano glassmakers. The Renaissance, and later colonization, had brought with it an increase in wealth throughout Europe, there was a greater demand for artistic glassware. But there were also many new producers serving the market. Murano lost it's status as the place were nearly all artistic glass was made, but remained the most important, and the finest producer. In fact, the competition from many newer and smaller operations appears to have motivated Murano into continuous improvements of it's technique and quality, they concentrated on staying remaining the best.
But in 1797 a bombshell arrived. Venice was occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte, bringing to an end a thousand years of independence. The institutions were dismantled and the guilds shut down. By 1804 control of the city had passed to the house of Hamburg, who imposed impossible taxes on Murano glass as favor to their own Bohemian glass works.
It nearly saw the end of Murano glass making. In 1800 there had been 24 furnaces supplying Murano's glass makers, by 1820 only a handful remained. There were no more guilds, no special status for Master glass workers, and all the notable companies closed their doors. The glass making business had been defeated, but the glass makers themselves remained, the tight community of Murano with it's 600 year history closed it's ranks. They kept their heads down and concentrated on preserving their skills for future generations.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait too long. The political unrest in Northen Italy during the first half of the 19th Century meant little attention was paid to the efforts of the Murano islanders. In the 1850's, with foreign control of the area defeated, a family of glass workers with a long history restored the family business by opening 'Fratelli Tosi', marketing their wares across Europe.
The modern day Italian Republic was officially born in 1861, marking the start of a period that saw a large scale rebirth of Murano glass making. Another ancient glass making family, Salviati, relaunched their activities by attending the Paris Exposition with hundreds of their products, winning many medals and rekindling interest in Murano glass. A glass makers school was founded to replace the role the Guild had once played. The Barovier family, one the oldest and most famous of Murano's glass making families, relaunched their company, adding even more credibility to the reborn Murano glass industry.
Murano glass propered throughout the 20th Century. The glass workers have concentrated on maintaining and refining the traditional glass working techniques, and adapting them to modern fashions and trends. In the early 20th Century Murano glass was at the forefront of Art Nouveau design, in the post war period there has been a resurgence of popularity in the colorful and trendy Millefiori glass jewelry.
The island of Murano, unspoilt by motor vehicles, is just a few minutes by boat from Venice, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Venice Dodges may have confined the glass makers to the island to isolate them from the outside world, but these days tourists flock in droves to see for themselves how Murano glass is still made in the traditional workshops.
Today's thriving glass industry on the island proves that, just like centuries ago, the tight knit community of glass workers on Murano are dedicated to carrying their craft through generations despite all adversities and political changes. And that is why, just like diamonds, Murano glass jewelry is forever.
