Murano chandeliers are the most flamboyant examples of glass art coming out of Murano furnaces, but they were invented relatively recently. Recently, considering that Murano was supplying royalty and rich Europeans with glass art for almost thousand years.
It all started when in 1724 a glass maker Josef Palme of Bohemia was granted royal permission to start building chandeliers in his workshop in Prachen, what is now the Czech Republic. He was very talented and successful and very soon Bohemian chandeliers were hanging in many palaces of Europe.
Never to be outdone when it comes to glass art, Murano glass makers went to work to out-compete Bohemians. The most successful was Master Giuseppe Lorenzo Briati. He worked for a while in one of the Bohemian glass workshops, where he learned the secret of making Bohemian glass, which stayed workable longer, before having to return to the furnace. When he eventually returned to Murano in 1739, he opened his own furnace and started making chandeliers. Master Briati came up with a completely new design called ciocche. He called his chandeliers 'lampadaria', and they were made entirely of colorful glass, very successfully competing with chandeliers made of wrought iron and other materials. He also revived famous Renaissance technique called filigrana, and incorporated it in his chandeliers. Very soon his very elaborate and lavishly decorated chandeliers became known all over the world, and ciocche chandeliers became what we now know as Murano chandeliers.
Murano chandeliers changed since 18th century and master Briati, to reflect styles and fashions of times, but the famous ciocche design resisted times and can still be seen in famous palaces and hotels all over the world. They are so colorful, the colors so vivid and decorations such as fruit and animals almost outrageous, that they become a focus point in any space they are meant to light. It is almost "a must" for any expensive hotel or private residence to have at least one Murano chandelier. It is as much a matter of prestige as it is of taste.
Murano chandeliers, antique and contemporary, are decorating some of the most famous public spaces in the world. Some of the most famous are Framon Hotel Manin in Venice, Hotel Plaza e de Russie in Viareggio, Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Lake Como, St. Regis Grand Hotel in Rome.
The New World inherited passion for beautiful Murano chandeliers and they now decorate some of the most luxurious hotels and restaurants in the USA: The Pierre in New York, Boca Raton Resort and Club among many others.
Murano chandeliers were always symbols for luxury and opulence, and their reputation did not diminish with times and emergence of many other glass makers. After so many centuries, having a Murano chandelier still means exceptionally good taste as well as deep pocket. The high price that Murano chandeliers demand reflects the fact that each elaborate piece is still made by hand, but also that they will withstand the changes of fashion, increase in value and present a solid investment and a priceless heritage.
There are many attempts to copy Murano chandeliers and sell cheaper copies, but the unique beauty and perfection in execution of each piece are certain giveaway to any buyer who is interested only in the original Murano art. Copies might be cheaper, but Murano is forever, and will only appreciate with time.
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