Venetian mirrors >> interesting to know >>
Venetian glassmakers from Venice-Murano knew how to make
glass so pure, white and fine that they called it "crystalline" because
of its similarities to rock crystal, whose transparency and shine it
resembles. In 1503 Venetian mirror makers declared that they were the
only ones to know the secrete of making mirrors of crystalline glass, a
most valuable and singular thing unknown throughout the world. The
break-through in glass making for mirrors was achieved with the use of a
vegetable ash rich in potassium oxide and magnesium. The glass salts, extracted
from the ash were used as the fluxing agent in the melting process, mixed with
sand to produce a sodium-potassium-based crystal-like glass without the
weight of today's lead crystal, but with equal clarity and elegance. Crystalline
responded superbly to the breathy commands of the blower, moving to form without
fuss. Venetian glass blown by the craftsman of Murano was light and clear,
gossamer to touch, perfect to create astonishing details for the mirrors
