Let's venture out to discover an ancient one glass art which has its roots in Renaissance Murano and which continues to enchant today with its refined elegance: the filigree.
This technique produces fascinating effects of light and color, thanks to the mastery of the glassmakers, capable of imprisoning thin threads of glass or milk inside the glass mass, evoking the effect of precious lace.
The materials and the procedure
The hands of the glassmakers precisely align the thin, carefully prepared glass rods containing straight or twisted strands of lattimo or colored glass. These rods are arranged on a metal surface, according to a pre-established design, and are heated until melted to form a single block.
Using a barrel, the glass, heated again, is blown into the desired shape. During this process, the lattimo threads stretch and deform, creating the characteristic filigree effect.
The glass is then left to cool slowly so that it does not break. And it can be further worked or decorated by applying other glassmaking techniques.
Filigree: processes and varieties
There are different variations of the watermark technique, which are characterized by different characteristics and aesthetic results. The original technique is that of half watermark, from which the following ones took root: reticello (or double filigree) and retortoli (or zanfirico).
The technique of half watermark it established itself between the second and third decades of the 16th century for the creation of vases, glasses, plates, jugs and other objects enriched with precious decoration. For this processing, the glass mass is initially modeled into a cylindrical shape and then reheated and marbled to be modeled by the master glassmaker. The final result gives the product a light and airy effect, aided by the filigree threads that contribute to giving movement to the transparency of the glass.
The variant of reticello filigree it established itself in Murano around the mid-16th century. This technique involves the use of two half-filigree cylindrical blown pieces with an opposite spiral pattern, placed one inside the other and made to adhere to obtain a single cylinder in which the threads make up a lozenge lattice, in the center of which a small air bubble, for a tidy and symmetrical visual effect.
The technique of twisted watermark it was patented in 1527 and quickly became one of the workhorses of the Murano glassworks. This process involves the use and hot joining of crystal glass rods which contain intertwined threads of lattimo or colored glass. This produces a vitreous fabric which is worked and blown to obtain the desired shape. A shape that draws strength from the dynamic and swirling effect of the twisted glass threads.
Beyond the different variations of this technique, each with different characteristics and results, filigree continues to fascinate glass connoisseurs due to the combination of craftsmanship, creativity and knowledge about the properties of this wonderful material.
Sources: zogia.it, lestanzedelvetro.org
