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Portraits by Martin Grasser
A Brief History of Venetian Mirrors
The Portraits collection of Venetian mirrors by artist Martin Grasser are hand crafted by talented artisans, using techniques that date back to the 13th century and to a little island off the Venice mainland called Murano.
In the late 13th century, as a protective measure against fire in Venice’s closely packed neighborhoods, the government required glassworkers in the city of Venice to pack up and move to Murano island, about one kilometer north of the mainland.
Murano became the incubator for several innovations in glassmaking techniques that would lead to worldwide recognition for the region of Venice.
The artisans' dedicated experimentation resulted in new types of glass that facilitated the development of finely surfaced mirrors. Thanks to carefully guarded secrets, Venice held the monopoly on the finest mirrors money could buy for three centuries.
The Murano mirrors, enclosed by handworked frames, artworks in their own right, attracted aristocratic patrons from across the European continent.
Today, centuries later, despite leaked secrets and innovations in other parts of the world, Venice still holds the mindshare for the most renowned glass and mirror products and artworks.
“An artisan must control the hands on the spinning wheel in order to follow, with the right accuracy and pressure, what the mind thinks… The mind has to be perfectly tuned in with the hands.”
Thanks to the little Venetian island of Murano and its early innovations, Venice remains the place where artisans continue to practice and push the boundaries of age-old techniques including hand gilding, beveling and engraving.
Read more about the Portraits collection of hand-crafted Venetian mirrors with digital provenance:
