|
|
Venetian
Beadmaking - Murano Beads!
The scenes below are from Venetian Bead production
houses in Venice and Murano, a glimpse into the work,
the techniques and daily life of a beadmaker in a Murano
bead factory. These are the people who produce hundreds
daily of the beads we order. |
|
|
|
 |
Sure
we'll have your Murano glass beads ready soon!!! |
|
|
| Canes from Effetre
(Moretti) Murano glass furnace in Murano are the first
step in making beads Venetian Beads. Pictured here are
canes at one of our beadmakers. Some colors of Murano
glass canes are more difficult to work (a little slower
or they burn out in the flame). Some colors, it turns
out, are also difficult for Moretti to make. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Tools of the Trade
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| On the wall are
tools which help the beadmaker with shapes, more consistent
sizing and generally improve production time. They are
used for hearts, stars, triangles and other shapes and
are made by local toolmakers for all Murano glass workers.
Round is a natural shape (though sizing is by eye) occurring
with the rotation of the glass in the flame - after lots
of practice. |
|
|
|
 |
Bead Making
- Hard, Hot Work |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Here you see a
typical production Venetian bead facility with about 8
workers, though it appears there is a vacancy, interested
in a job? Work hours are about 8 to 5 with a break for
lunch. You can talk or listen to music, but no web surfing
and no phones! You do get the month of August off, health
benefits and government retirement. |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Her mother taught her and she taught her
daughter. Three generations of Venetian beadmakers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Beginning
the Murano Bead |
|
|
| Here the first
step is getting your Murano glass cane hot and fluid to
begin wrapping around the copper mandrel. See how the
cane is a glowing orange-red. The temperature here is
about 900 ° Farenheit. The plastic glass helps prevents
popping embers from hitting the beadmaker. See the brown
spot on her hand, it's from the popping embers - a tale-tale
sign of a beadmaker. |
|
 |
|
|
On the right she is making
a Venetian Bead a simple gold foil tube, submerged under
crystal clear glass. On the round tray to her left are
the small pieces of 24kt gold foil, (gold leaf) which
she will wrap around her bead. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Most Venetian
Beads are made on copper mandrels and when completed are
simply chopped (as shown in the picture on the left) off
and then in a bath of nitric acid the copper disolves.
The invention of this process is attributed to Ercole
Moretti & filli in about 1935. From antiquity, the
beads were made on metal mandrels over which a powder
clay had been applied, much like the lampworkers around
the world use today. And we do have some beadmakers who
use bead release for certain types of Venetian beads and
we regularly weigh down our suitcases with bead release
on each trip over as they like a brand produced here in
the US. |
|
 |
|
| Here you see the equipment
used in the etching of the copper from the Venetian beads.
Serious equipment! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Watch a beadmaker in action!
A short clip on beadmaking, note the box to her left, this is the
normal cooling process of Venetian beads, it is vermiculite - a
silica mixture which holds the heat and gradually lets the bead
cool. Annealing ovens are used for larger beads/pendants. She's
a pro and the bead is made quickly. (You will need QuickTime to
view the movie.)
|
|
| We hope you enjoy
this bit of trivia on how beads are made. We find it helps
sell your work if you understand more about the process
and can explain to your customers the history, the techniques
and the skill required to produce these beautiful Venetian
Beads using the famous Murano glass. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
All beads are enlarged to show details. See Bead Sizes for accurate
sizing. Price is per bead unless otherwise stated. Prices are in
US dollars.
|
|
|
|
Your source for: Venetian Beads
- Murano Beads - Swarovski Crystals - Austrial Crystals - Venetian
Jewelry - Jewellery Venetian - Lampwork Beads - Venetian Glass Beads
- Murano Glass Beads - Murano Glass - Venetian Dichroic Beads and
Murano Cane Glass. Venetian Bead Shop is a direct importer - Retail
and Wholesale
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Direct to you from
the Furnaces of Murano
www.venetianglassart.com
|
|
Venetian Glass is a direct importer
of Murano Glass, Venetian Glass featuring Murano Chandeliers, Venetian
Jewelry, Murano glass paperweights, Murano figurines, Venetian vases,
Venetian Wine Glasses, Murano Glass Clowns, Venetian Glass Drawer
Pulls, Wine Stoppers, Handmade Venetian Jewelry, Corporate Gifts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Visit our Yahoo!
Store Since 1998 GlobalGiftMall.com
GlobalGiftmall is a direct importer of Venetian Glass
and Murano Glass |
|
|
 |
|
|
©1998-2007 The Unlimited US
- VenetianBeadShop.com| All Rights Reserved©
Tel: 1 800 439 3551 - Fax: 1 408 245 5904- Int'l Tel: 001 408 245
5900
|
|
| Venetian
Bead Shop is a direct importer of Venetian Beads and Murano Beads. Your
source of wholesale Venetian Beads and wholesale Murano Glass beads. Working
directly with the beadmakers of Venice and the island of Murano, often designing
our own beads, we feature over 8000 different colors and styles of traditional
and modern Venetian glass beads. The beads begin with Effetre Moretti™
glass canes which are produced on the island of Murano. Each bead is handmade
one by one by beadmakers sitting behind a torches with a mandrel in one
hand and a cane of glass in the other, known as lampwork. We introduced
Venetian Dichroic Beads to the US through our efforts with our beadmakers
in Murano and revived an ancient technique of furnace glass with our partner
in Murano. We continue to bring new and innovative ideas to this age old
Murano industry. We have been importing Venetian Beads continuously since
1993, shipping worldwide. We also offer Swarovski™ Crystals, Gold Findings,
Sterling Silver Findings, Softflex™ Wire, Beadalon Wire and a variety
of Beading Tools and Supplies. We offer wholesale beads and the largest
Venetian Bead Shop Wholesale showroom in the US with over 3000 sq ft of
beads! |
| |
