It is said that the art of glassmaking originated in Mesopotamia and Egypt and dates as far back as 3000 BC. It wasn’t until about four millennia later when glassmaking techniques reached Venice via Mediterranean trade and local artisans began producing objects and mosaics. The role of the fiolario, or glassmaker, was first recorded in the 10th century, and since then that rich cultural heritage has been a heavily guarded Venetian patrimony.

But with the increasingly global popularization of heritage brands like Barovier&Toso and Venini, the Venetian island of Murano is under the international spotlight like never before. Its guarded workshops and ateliers have opened their doors to new, fresh ideas and an international wave of designers.

Norman Foster and Hydra

Norman Foster poses with his reinterpretation of the Venetian chandelier.…