Venetian mirrors >> history >>
The golden glow of the Venetian mirror, blended with the
reference to gold within the glass, is reminiscent of the golden dust
technique of the 19th century. Venetian glassmakers would insert gold
leaf into the glass prior to it being solidified. The gold-leaf is
forever imbedded into the mirror glass, and therefore protected, adds
color and eternal sparkle to the Venetian mirrors. The carefully crafted
roses, ribbons and tender leaves add the final touch to the elegance of
the Venetian mirrors. The details on some of the Venetian mirrors are
crafted using a "lattimo glass". Lattimo, the name giving for
translucent milky-white glass, was first produced in the Venice-Murano
glassworks in the 16th century. This technique involves using lead to color the
glass. Over time, mirror makers where able to achieve a variety of effects
within the glass. This process now being
molten for an overall texture, artfully distributed throughout the glass
to bring ornamentation of Venetian mirrors to life. An early 19th
century Murano invention, the golden dust technique, or introduction of
the gold leaf into the glass, continued to reaffirm Muranese
inventiveness. By skillfully manipulating the two techniques into the
details of Venetian mirrors artful borders, flowers and ribbons are
created.
