Specialists of Design: The DDB takes you from New York to Italy (Part 1 of 2)

We recently introduced you to Jason Lowe, the Design Professional of the Design & Decoration Building. Now that we have gotten to know him, he's whisking us away to Italy to share some history behind of his favorite products at the DDB.

By Jason Lowe

Ahhh Venice —Queen of the Adriatic, City of Bridges. This incredible city, perched on hundreds of tiny islands in an Adriatic lagoon, has made immeasurable and outsize contributions to the world of design. From the rich history of textile production to the iconic architecture of the palazzos lining the Grand Canal, Venice is one big treasure chest for any design enthusiast. There is one element of Venice’s design history that jumps out most prominently for me—Murano Glass.

The romantic history of glass making in Venice, and specifically on the island of Murano, traces its origins back to the late to the late 13th century when the Venetian Republic was a crossroads between the East and West. Legend has it that the glass makers and their furnaces were moved to the island as a safety measure against setting fire to the city’s mostly wooden buildings. Whether that is the case or not, Murano’s glass makers were firmly entrenched on the island by the 14th century.

In the meantime, the Maestro’s of the furnaces were becoming some of Venice’s most prominent citizens, but with one little catch: they were not allowed to leave the Republic! Leaving was banned in order to protect the secrets of Venetian glass making. Murano has maintained a monopoly on the highest quality glass making in the world for centuries, and even through many ups and downs, the uniqueness and beauty of artisanal Murano glass still glimmers brightly today.

Stay tuned to GoDesignGo for more from Jason when he shares more on the process of Murano glass making and where in the DDB you can get your hands on some.