The History of the Murano Chandelier

Murano is a series of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, with a long history associated with lead glass making and chandelier construction. The history of the Murano chandelier is an important part of the history of Venice itself, a city that was once one of the most important hubs in the whole of Europe. Murano lies about 1.5 km north of Venice, and is only about 1.5 km in length.

With a population of only 5,000 people, it is amazing that Murano has played such an important role in the history of glass making, lampworking, and chandelier construction. The crystal chandelier is one of the most widely recognised lighting fixtures in the entire world, and many of the expert craftsmen who worked on the early crystal chandelier designs originated from the area of Murano in Venice, Italy.

Murano was originally settled by the Romans, and from the sixth century onwards by people from Altinum and Oderzo. During its early history the island prospered through the fishing industry and through the production of salt, although its close proximity to the sea quickly saw it become a centre for trade and commerce. While it once had its own Grand Council like the one in Venice, from the 13th century onwards Murano became governed from Venice itself. In the year 1291, all of the glassmakers in Venice were forced to move to Murano to avoid the risk of fire, and this is when the glass making industry of Murano was born. Some of the products the island became famous for included glass beads, mirrors, aventurine glass, and chandeliers.

The very name for crystal glass comes from the word cristallo, which was originally coined in Murano. While crystal glass is not crystalline in any manner, the way that it imitates rock crystal gave birth to a naming convention that is still very much alive to this day. Murano was one of the major centres for the production of lead crystal in medieval and early modern Europe, and it was not until the 18th century that the industry moved to Britain. The history of the Murano chandelier is heavily associated with the history of glass making and lead crystal production, and the name Murano is still used today to describe the ornate nature of crystal chandelier designs.