We are very pleased to offer this gorgeous hand blown 1970s Murano free form ruffled glass bowl. The traditional term Mezza Filigrana, constitutes half filigree threads running on a diagonal & parallel to achieve a wide or deep colored striping. Our wonderful bowl features a remarkable 4 color, multi diffused glass banded hexagonal rim, over a misty opalescent center. This bowl is a prominent display at 10.5 x 10.5 x 3.5 inches tall, and weighs 2# 4 oz. Our fantastic Murano carries its original sticker and is in great condition. xxxxxxxxxxxx. It is believed that the glass-making history in Murano actually originated in 9th century Rome, with significant Asian and Muslim influences, as Venice was a major trading port. The reputation of Murano as a center for glass making was born when the Venetian Republic, fearing fire and destruction of the cities mostly wooden buildings, ordered glass makers to move their foundries to Murano ca. 1291. Murano glass makers were soon the island’s most prominent citizens, and by the 14th century, glass makers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed immunity from prosecution by the Venetian state, and found their daughters married into Venice’s most affluent families. However glass makers were not allowed to leave the Republic. Many craftsmen took this risk and set up glass furnaces in surrounding cities and as far afield as England and the Netherlands. By the end of the 16th century, three thousand of Murano islands seven thousand inhabitants were involved in some way in the glass making industry.Murano glass makers held a monopoly on quality glass making for centuries, developing or refining many technologies including crystalline glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads & inclusions of gold (aventurine), multicolored glass embedded canne (millefiori), spiraling canes (latticino), fiber blankets or sandwiches (zanfirico), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation cabochon gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano are still employing these century-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass figurines to Murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers. The Museo Vetrario (Glass Museum) in the Palazzo Giustinian, which holds displays on the history of glass making as well as glass samples ranging from Egyptian times through the present day. Classic form Murano Glass was produced in great quantities in the 1950s and 1960s for export, but subsequently there has been a major revival of interest in the brilliant craft, beginning in the 1980s. Some significant producers of hand blown Murano glass from the early through latter 20th century are; ALFREDO BARBINI (1921 - 2007), ARCHIMEDE SEGUSO (1909-1999), ANTICA VETRERIA FRATELLI TOSO : (1854 - Present), FRATELLI PITAU (CURRENT), FORMIA (1962 - PRESENT), VETRI MURANO (1981 - PRESENT): The Vetri Murano labels, established in 1981, Vetri Murano is a trade-mark created by the Venice glass consortium and for use only by those companies owning glass works on the island of Murano. The largest companies will generally use their own signatures.General Murano Research consulted: Murano Magic / by Carl I. Gable; Venetian Glass Confections in Glass 1855 to 1914 / by Sheldon Barr; 20th Century Murano Glass / by Marc Heiremans; Murano Island Of Glass / by Attilia Dorigato; Fratelli Toso, Italian Glass 1854 to 1980; and Archimede Seguso: Mid-mod Glass from Murano: Lace & Stone; and Italian Glass: Century 20 / all by Leslie Pina; Objects of Fantasy: Glass Inclusions of the Nineteenth Century / by Dena K. Tarshis; Exquisite Glass Ornaments: The nineteenth-century Murano glass revival in the de Boos-Smith collection / by Rosa Barovier Mentasti; Art of the Barovier 1866-1972 / by Marina Barovier; The Colours of Murano in the XIX Century / by Aldo Bova; Venini Glass, 2 Volumes [Hardcover] / by Franco Deboni

Excellent condition - very minor base wear