Twisted and straight filigree
This is a sophisticated hot decorative technique, developed by Venetian glass masters between the end of the 15th century and the first half of the 16th century to embellish crystal glass artefacts. This technique uses thin rods of transparent glass (called canne), inside which are inserted threads of opaque (lattimo) or coloured glass.
Spiral filigree
This is one of the most important techniques developed in Murano during the Renaissance, and involves the use of transparent glass rods containing milky or colored glass threads. If the threads in the rods are spiral (twisted) the filigree is called “a retortoli”, while if the rods are crossed it is called “a reticello” or “doppia”.
Ribbon filigree
One of the oldest techniques in use since the 16th century, is obtained by placing transparent glass rods with a coloured core on a metal plate, which is heated until it reaches the melting point.
Water Effect
To achieve this effect the molten glass must be marked with a design imprinted in a metal plate.
Scavo
Glass almost opaque with sandy surface in imitation of antique glass.
Fading gradated
Type of glass in which transparency will fade to opacity in a way where the graduation can not be controlled. Graduation is obtained after having notching the opal layer.
Bulicante
The feature of this glass consists in a multitude of tiny air bubbles. To get it, the glassy mass, still on the blower’s pipe, is introduced in to a special die lined with metal tips: these leave small spaces on the surface of the molten mass which is then submerged in another layer of molten glass so that they are transformed into tiny air bubbles.
Pulegoso
Glass with a spongy appearance, with many air bubbles. The inventor was Napoleone Martinuzzi, the art director at Venini in the late 20s. The homogenous and refined molten mass is mixed in with salts (sodium bicarbonate) that decompose due to the heat and liberate gases (carbon dioxide) dispersed in the form of bubbles of varying diameters.
Rigadin
Type of glass characterized from slim ribs obtained blowing the molten glass in a mold with sharp blades. Rigadin could be straight or, when twisted, “rigadin retorto”. Is also called “optic glass”.
Morisa
Decoration applied to the main piece made up of filo di glass threads big enough, like a ring around that piece of glass. If the decoration is very thin and slim we are talking about “morisetta”.