Murano glass has been a famous product of the Venetian island of Murano for centuries. Located off the shore of Venice, Italy, Murano was a commercial port as far back as the 7th Century. By the 10th Century it had become a well-known city of trade. Today Murano remains a destination for tourists and art and jewellery lovers alike.

There are many different methods a Murano glass-master can employ in the creation of beads depending upon the desired result. From variance in color to method, the manufacture of these beads is a careful and delicate process. The process of Murano bead-making begins with the production of color canes, a task which, in and of itself, presents a glass maker with a significant challenge. The chemical compounds involved in color fabrication are extremely sensitive so they must be mixed with absolute accuracy. Whereas aquamarine is created through the use of copper and cobalt, ruby red is achieved through the use of a gold solution as a coloring agent. Other materials are used to create the other brilliant colors used in the manufacture of Murano’s famous beads.

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