The Baroviers: a dynasty of master glassmakers on the island of Murano
The island of Murano, located in Italy's Venice lagoon, has for centuries been renowned for its exceptional glassmaking tradition. Among the many families who have contributed to this renown, the Barovier family occupies a special place. With a history dating back over 700 years, the Baroviers are considered one of the oldest and most prestigious families of master glassmakers in the world. In this article, I look back at the history of this iconic family.
While the Barovier family can be traced back to the 13th century, the family's 1st famous master glassmaker was Angelo Barovier (?-1461). He is considered one of the first master glassmakers to have perfected the technique of crystalline glass or "Cristal de Venise" - "vetro cristallo", a completely clear, colorless and transparent glass -. He created pieces of exceptional transparency and luminosity, rivaling crystal. At the time, these works were highly prized by
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