Discover the collection, inspired the by the art and culture of Venice, Italy.
THE PROCESS
At the heart of the maestro’s process is the furnace. There, molten pools of glass attached to punti—or long rods—are repeatedly heated to temperatures of more than 2400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the correct temperature is reached, the glass is removed and the maestro works quickly as the glass cools to blow, mold and manipulate it into the desired form. The process is repeated—often hundreds of times—to achieve the shape. It requires perfect coordination and choreography, an exquisite harmony between right and left hands and years of experience to master, all done in a studio where the open fires bring temperatures beyond 100 degrees.
After the vessel is shaped and cooled, the finish is applied. The maestro is a specialist in the sabbiato and nastrato finishing techniques, still working with the tools used by his father and grandfather before him to create the most beautiful, nuanced effect.
The final step is the signature, as each vase is hand engraved with the Lafayette 148 logo and its unique number in the series. The result is a one-of-a-kind work of art— an object of beauty to be enjoyed for years to come.
THE HISTORY
The glassmakers of Murano are said to stretch back to the Roman Empire, when the glass was used to create fixtures that illuminated the city’s bathhouses. The trade experienced a renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries, when glass artisans forged new techniques of increasing complexity. The artists and their families were revered for their craft, passing their creative traditions from generation to generation. Over the last century, many of the children of these families have chosen to pursue careers outside of glassblowing, and the number of these storied families has dwindled. Lafayette 148 is devoted to supporting and preserving the artistic heritage of the Murano glass artisans, and sharing their extraordinary skill and vision with the world.