Blue Murano Glass Vase with Silver-Colored Inserts, “The Doges’ Glass,” 1980s

Blue Murano glass vase with silver inserts, made by the Il Vetro dei Dogi glassworks in the 1980s

Ø 16 cm, height 24 cm

"Vetro dei Dogi" represents the finest and most luxurious production of Murano glass—the kind that, between the 15th and 18th centuries, became a symbol of the power and refinement of the Republic of Venice (La Serenissima).

It was not merely a functional object, but a true diplomatic tool: the Doges offered the finest pieces to sovereigns, popes, and emperors throughout Europe as a testament to Venetian uniqueness and technological supremacy.

The bond between the Doges and glassmaking was enforced by extremely strict laws. Glass masters were confined to the island of Murano to prevent the spread of manufacturing secrets; in return, they enjoyed unique privileges, such as judicial immunity and the possibility of marrying their daughters to Venetian nobles.

The techniques that characterized "Vetro dei Dogi" included:

Venetian Cristallo: Invented by Angelo Barovier in 1450. It was the first perfectly transparent and colorless glass in the world, resembling rock crystal, and supplanted the opaque, impure glass of the Middle Ages.

Lattimo Glass: Created to imitate Chinese porcelain, which was extremely precious at the time. It is an opaque white glass obtained by adding tin dioxide or arsenic.

Enamel and Gold Decorations: Goblets were painted with mythological scenes, noble coats of arms, or portraits of the Doges themselves, making each piece a work of pictorial as well as sculptural art.

Frosted Glass and Filigree: Techniques that demonstrated exceptional manual skill in manipulating molten glass.