The glass beads are manufactured using the finest murano glass. Since medieval times, Murano (a cluster of islands near Venice, Italy) has been famous world-wide for artisanal glass created by skilled Italian glassblowers. This well-guarded craft has been handed down from generation to generation.
Murano bead-making begins by using Murrine (colored glass canes) composed of silica (a derivative of sand or quartz) mixed with other elements. The production of these colored canes is a significant challenge, because the process involved in color fabrication is extremely sensitive and must be done with total accuracy.
Most Murano glass art is made by using the complex lampworking technique. This method, invented by a Murano glass-master in the 1700's, involves heating the glass at a high temperature with a torch until it becomes liquid. Before the liquid glass cools and completely solidifies, it is in a semi-soft state. At this point the delicate process of shaping the bead begins. The Murano glass-master employs his skills as an artist/sculptor by wrapping the material around a metal rod until the ideal shape is achieved. Several layers of different colored glass as well as gold and silver leaf are often used to produce the desired effect. After the bead is slowly cooled, it is removed from the rod which produces a hole for eventual stringing. The end results are extraordinary glass beads decorated with swirls, stripes, flowers, polka dots, etc.
