Have you ever wondered how Murano makes the beautiful glass chandelier that hangs in all the great houses around the world? Believe it or not, they are still made by hand in glass factories on the island of Murano, about 17 minutes from Venice, Italy. These centuries-old techniques are still used today to make Murano glass, which is some of the best glass in the world. But chandeliers are not made of glass. They are made by hand from glass.

The glassmaking techniques used by Murano glassmakers have kept their glassmaking secret for centuries. They were moved to the island of Murano in 1291 because it was feared that their glass-making furnaces would cause a fire. They became famous throughout the world with the glass they made. No one could make glass vases, chandeliers, lamps, or jewelry like the glassmakers of Murano. Today, its glass is still highly sought after. However, there are many who sell “Murano glass” that is not from the island.

There are several types of Italian chandeliers sold under the Murano name, but they are not true Murano glass. Chandeliers can be made from three different types of glass. The first is rock crystal, which is a natural mineral found in the earth’s crust. They are sometimes used as rhinestones and are still used to make jewelry. They come in various colors, from clear quartz to amethyst and rose quartz. They do not become Murano chandeliers.

The second is lead crystal where lead is added to the glass. It helps the glass break down light into a colored prism when it receives sunlight. It makes it reflect and refract. Lead crystal is never used in Murano chandeliers.

The third type of crystal is a rhinestone or imitation diamond. They are cut just like real diamonds, but are mainly used for fashion and interior design and in costumes, especially for pop artists and ballroom dance costumes.

None of these crystals are used in the making of Murano glass chandeliers. The word crystalline comes from the Italian word cristallo, which means crystal clear. It was used when Murano glassmakers created the first “crystalline” glass in 1450. It was perfectly transparent. That means I had no flaws, bubbles, or smoking spots on the glass. At the time, it was an amazing technology because glass was “clear like crystal.” That word has led to many misunderstandings about Murano glass chandeliers.

Although there are many manufacturers of glass products that claim to be Murano glass, you can tell real Murano glass by the label that is applied to the item. It cannot be removed unless you break the item. When looking for a vase, chandelier, glasses or jewelry made by Murano glass makers, look for the sticker. You will know that it is authentic and made on the island of Murano. This should be “crystal clear” for you before you purchase the item.