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Just off the Venetian shoreline in Italy rests the Island of Murano, a historic trading port and the home of Murano glass. Venice was a commercial trading port since the 7th century and it’s believed that Murano glass making actually has its roots in 9th-century Roman artistry, though there are also strong Asian and Muslim influences present as well.

With travelers, merchants, tradesmen, and artisans descending on Venice from all parts of the world for centuries, Murano glassmakers had ample opportunity to absorb the techniques and styles of artisans from around the world. As early as the 10th century, Venice was one of the most well-known trade cities in Europe, and Murano remains today a popular destination for tourists, artists, jewelry makers, and lovers of fine art glass.

Venice was once a city with numerous glassmaking operations spread throughout. In 1291, the Venetian Republic, fearing the potential of widespread fire that might result from an accident in one of the mostly wooden city’s many glassmaking foundries, required all glassmakers to move their operations to the Island of Murano. The move isolated the dangers of the foundries flames from the rest of the city and also established the foundation for Murano glass. With all of the glass artisans now in one central location, Murano became a creative hot spot in which the art of glassmaking was able to flourish as it could nowhere else in the world.