The round bead is the first one you learn how to make. And most of our other shapes take off from the humble round bead. So it is the building block and our most popular bead shape. We buy and sell many thousands of round Gold Foil beads each year. First you’ll need a torch,…
Ever so often we have to remind ourselves that we are working with artisans who work with materials at 2600F in front of fire breathing torches for hours each day. They are not machines, nor robots. Each of beads is a small work of art with all the beauties and “defects” inherent in any product…
Roberto Donà created this tool making video in honor of his late father Carlo Donà, his family has been making tools for the furnaces and bead makers of Murano for 90 years. The tools must be strong, created for specific uses in production furnaces on Murano, and must survive the daily use in the furnaces. Roberto…
We enjoy a very privileged friendship with our bead makers in Venice and Murano. Doing business internationally has it risks, there are no “laws” which cover commerce with individuals and small groups. It’s all about relationships and believe me you don’t want to burn one of those…
Sometimes making Murano beads is like one of those games you play where you try to see the differences between two cartoons. Or “one of these things is not like the other”. We were working on a slightly different version of one of our zanfirico* beads to make it a little more production friendly. Two…
The theme for Carnevale 2015 is all about the Food and Drink. Saturday night the parade down the Rio Cannaregio Canal bought thousands to watch this spectacular show. The fun continues until the close on 17 February. Read More: Follow our Blog
Watch as our bead makers blown beads on the torch. This is an altogether different method than our beads in the canna production. This is a more artistic production, with multi-colors of canes making varied colored designs. Truly no two ever exactly alike. Our Boro Glass beads are made in this tradition as are many…
Take a look as we work with the bead makers for new ideas, new shapes. First you must choose the form and the glass canes. There are forms called pinze for every size of each form, for example in hearts we have from 8mm, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20 to 35mm+. The color of the…
When it comes to our sculpted Blown Beads, you have to think in 3d. The outside color is only part of the story. Selecting canes, you need to be able to visualize the effect when the outside layer is ground away. We work with our Master Glass Blower to come up with the designs. Sometimes…
When it comes to our sculpted Blown Beads, you have to think in 3d. The outside color is only part of the story. Selecting canes, you need to be able to visualize the effect when the outside layer is ground away. We work with our Master Glass Blower to come up with the designs. Sometimes…