10 historic shops and glassworks in Murano where you can admire and purchase these true Venetian works of art for Christmas 2022.
Murano Glass Nativity Scene
Driven by the unmatched skill and creative genius that make Italian flair a benchmark in the art world, the most skilled master glassmakers of the Serenissima have innovated the ancient art of glass modeling (whose first evidence dates back to the Fertile Crescent of the 3rd millennium BC), consolidating over centuries working techniques so exclusive and secret that betraying their existence outside the territories of the Republic was a crime punishable by execution.
To curb the danger of devastating fires, whose spread was facilitated by the massive presence of wooden houses, the Great Council of Venice decreed in 1291 the relocation of the powerful furnaces from Venice to the small archipelago of Murano, today the undisputed capital of fine glass production, where you can discover about eighty companies specialized in this noble art.
The Glass Nativity Scene
The delicate, dangerous, and difficult process that led to the conception and birth of these spectacular sculptures arouses gratitude in those who, by giving themselves what at first glance is merely a sophisticated glass artifact, recognize the profound cultural value of these works, pieces of a vast mosaic that testifies to the historical and artistic value of Venetian civilization.
The synthesis between the biblical symbolism of the nativity and the wise and balanced flair of skilled master glassmakers has led to the creation of works of inimitable craftsmanship and deep sacred value.
Among the best glassworks in Murano, specialized in recreating the nativity scene, evoking with their art the spiritual meaning of the Gospel episode of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, we can mention:
Vetreria Badioli
With years of experience passed down over two generations, the Badioli family has received several awards for the impeccable mastery and creative talent that shines through its works.
In addition to precious jewelry and fine sculptures, including custom works, the vast catalog of Vetreria Badioli di Murano (located at Calle Bertolini 25 | 30141 Murano – Venice), includes a splendid nativity scene in polychrome glass in which, besides the depictions of the Madonna, St. Joseph, and the Baby Jesus, the figures of the Magi and a graceful palm sculpture appear.
To see with your own eyes the rich assortment of Murano glass artifacts by the Badioli family, you can visit the website www.vetreriabadioli.com
Vetreria Artistica Archimede Seguso
Founded thanks to the talent of Archimede Seguso, one of the greatest master glassmakers ever to exist specialized in heavy glassworking, the Vetreria Artistica is a reference point in the sector of handcrafted Murano glass sculptures.
For Christmas 2022, the artisan workshop offers elegant and elaborate representations of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, among which stand out the elaborate decorations of the statuettes of Joseph and Mary, made in black glass with a gold halo and characterized by a harmonious curvilinear flow that gives the composition an aura of serene lightness.
For more information, you can visit the website www.aseguso.com or, even better, go directly to the location at
Fondamenta Antonio Colleoni, 15, 30100 Venice (VE)
where you will find, in addition to lovely miniature green fir trees, golden angels, and various ornaments to decorate the Christmas tree, various and stunning types of sculptures, vases, and chandeliers.
Vetreria Artistica Colleoni – Art Studios
Vetreria Colleoni has been run by the Moro family since 1985, strong in the exceptional artisan expertise developed over the years thanks to strict discipline and ardent passion for this noble art.
It is enough to take a look at the photo gallery on the site
to understand how manual dexterity and deep inspiration drawn from the natural, faunal, and historical heritage of the lagoon city can merge wisely to translate into true works of art, capable of challenging the boundaries that separate the noble arts from purely decorative ones.
To the cheerful and colorful little bells and Christmas spheres, whose bright colors are ideal for decorating your Christmas tree in an original way, is added a splendid nativity scene, whose method of creation (lampworking and filigree technique) gives the composition an elaborate appearance that harmonizes well with the luminous whiteness of the figures of Baby Jesus and Mary, creating a balanced and intelligent contrast with the black weave that distinguishes the figure of Joseph.
The essential line of the manger’s profile resembles an elegant frame from which the volume of the composition it is supposed to enclose seems to escape, from the lively shooting star whose rays stand out above the stable, to the roundness of the bodies of Mary and Joseph, lovingly gathered towards the son resting in the cradle.
Franco Murano Glass
The incandescent furnaces of Franco Murano Glass, kept active since 1979 by some of the greatest exponents of Murano glassworking, guarantee the constant production of inimitable glass artifacts sought after worldwide.
The splendid nativity scenes included in the catalog combine clear references to Venetian culture (such as the black glass gondola with its sinuous and elegant profile), to the traditional symbolism of the nativity (represented by the figures of Joseph and Mary facing the Baby Jesus), thus creating a bold, picturesque, and original composition that, without ever falling into banality, playfully and intelligently challenges the classic canons of nativity scene composition, highlighting the Venetian cultural identity while enhancing the sacred and spiritual character linked to the birth of Jesus.
Should you wish to take a look at the unmistakable Murano nativity scene and the rich collection of miniature and Christmas ornaments, charming and lively (from funny gnomes to witty Santas on reindeer, and much more…), we recommend visiting the official website
unless you prefer to go in person to the headquarters of Franco Murano Glass, at Sestiere Castello, N. 4517, 30122, Venice (VE)
to treat yourself to a pleasant day and let yourself be enchanted by the historical and artistic charm that pervades the Murano landscape.
Tommasi
The company Tommasi & Figli S.a.s. di Tommasi Daniele & C., located at Rivalonga ex Conterie
30141 – Murano – Venice, is a historic glassworks that for three generations has kept alive and honored the noble and complex art of producing and working Murano glass.
The exclusive character of the works stems from the skill of expert artisans who, mastering the ancient techniques of Murano glass manipulation preserved for centuries in a context of utmost secrecy, are free to give shape and lustre to their creative flair, creating modern and original works that combine respect for tradition and eclecticism.
To be translated into an authentic work of art worthy of a Murano glassworks, abstraction, creativity, and imagination must comply with rigorous criteria ranging from the creation of glass, the result of calibrated dosage and fusion of silica sands, soda, stabilizers, and oxides, to the masterful artisan expertise acquired through years of practice and hard work.
The realization of talent, experience, and passion is attested by the stunning nativity scene in Murano glass and 24kt gold in which the Holy Family is enclosed in a Christmas ball bearing a circular opening from which emerge the figures of Mary, kneeling towards the Son and crowned with a shining halo, St. Joseph, leaning on a staff with a curled end, and the Baby Jesus in a golden cradle. The composition is completed by the comet star towering on top of the Christmas ball.
Other variants include miniatures of the ox and donkey and two palm trees with gold decorations. https://www.tommasi.it/en/negozio/lampwork/g82m-murano-glass-nativity-crib/
Vetreria Venier
Vetreria Venier, located at Calle del Paradiso, 21 30141 Venice (VE), hosts a section dedicated to Pino Signoretto, undisputed genius of Murano glass art.
Pino Signoretto was one of the greatest exponents of the renowned art of Murano glassworking. His authority stems from the experience gained over decades of work in historic Murano glassworks, whose incandescent furnaces had awakened in him that irrepressible passion that would continue to burn throughout his life, manifesting itself in his inimitable creations.
Zeal, dedication, and love for the delicate and difficult profession allowed Pino Signoretto to master and innovate traditional glassworking techniques, making him one of the most established and admired Murano artists worldwide through his formidable works, several examples of which can be admired on the website www.vetreriavenier.com
A splendid example of a nativity scene attributed to Pino Signoretto shows modernity, ingenuity, and incredible fineness, revealed by the particular structure of the work that resembles a green and red obelisk, ground and polished by hand, supporting a small circular platform on which the nativity scene is reproduced, whose protagonists are represented with such precision and expressiveness that they seem animated with their own life, as if fascinated and enraptured by the presence of the Baby Jesus.
In addition to guided tours and artisan workshops organized by the glassworks, details of which can be found on the official website, it is possible to contact the company directly to request custom sculptures that meet your tastes and needs.
For Christmas 2022 and future ones, Vetreria Venier will be happy to listen to your requests and create a spectacular nativity scene that can give your home a unique and fabulous touch.
YourMurano
YourMurano is an e-commerce based at Fondamenta Serenella, 3, 30141 Venice. The digital shop offers a wide selection of fine sculptures, household items, carafes, vases, glasses, and for the upcoming Christmas 2022, a prestigious collection of nativity scenes refined and detailed, whose splendor can be admired through high-resolution images viewable at the following link from the official website yourmurano presepi
The artistic quality of the sculptures does not lie solely in the material value of the gold leaves and fine murrine used in the creative process, but above all in the artisan skill to enhance the chromatism and brilliance of such materials in such a wise and measured way as to give the composition a luminous and ethereal, almost evanescent aura.
In addition to the Holy Family, the figures of the Magi, the charming statuettes of the ox and donkey, and the meticulous palm sculpture that recalls the Bethlehem scene are available.
OMG – Original Murano Glass
The foundation of Original Murano Glass originated from the desire to ensure and prove the authenticity of Murano glass products, to enhance the cultural heritage of Venetian craftsmanship and guarantee its excellence.
The first-choice quality of Murano works is attested by a team of experts, whose mastery of glassworking techniques combined with skill in the field of figurative arts, drawing, and sculpture, makes Original Murano Glass one of the most reliable portals to turn to for choosing and obtaining the best Murano items that match your tastes.
For the upcoming Christmas 2022 you will have the opportunity to turn to sector specialists ready to accompany and assist you in choosing the best compositions and gift ideas to decorate your home and commemorate the nativity: from cute reproductions of snowmen, miniature Santa Clauses and Christmas trees, to vivid nativity scenes in colored Murano glass decorated with gold leaves. Also available are versions of the nativity scene from the most essential and classic line, as well as angel statuettes that stand out for the lively geometric patterns of the murrine that adorn and embellish their robes.
You can admire these and other examples of Christmas art in the section
Gift Ideas » Christmas Gifts in Murano Glass on the website www.originalmuranoglass.com
Elis MuranoGlass
Based in Cannaregio 1744 – 30121 Venice, Eli’s shop is a family-run business specialized in the sale of handcrafted Murano glass artifacts.
All available products bear the official mark of the manufacturing glassworks and the related code attesting to their authenticity.
Eli’s shop has a virtual portal that can be consulted in a simple and fast way, designed to present in a detailed and effective manner the wide range of original Murano artifacts, allowing users to rely on available and highly qualified staff ready to provide clarification and useful advice, strong with years of experience gained through passion and the desire to preserve the extraordinary and exclusive Murano art known and admired worldwide.
Among the various types of Christmas ornaments, viewable on the website www.elismuranoglass.com, stands out for the brilliance and clarity of the colors and the evident mastery of the artisan, the polychrome nativity scene made with the lampworking technique, in which the Holy Family is harmoniously set on a classic Venetian gondola. The protagonists of the biblical event seem to compose a precious jewel whose shine creates a pleasant contrast with the raven black color of the tiny and very graceful gondola.
Once you have chosen the item that meets your preferences, the delicate artifact will be carefully packed and shipped in maximum safety conditions.
Venturini Souvenirs
One of the most sought-after gift idea shops, strictly in fine Murano glass, is Venturini Souvenirs, a renowned commercial establishment whose success is due to the rare craftsmanship of the products on display and the competitive prices at which the precious Murano artifacts are sold.
This winning combination has led the prestigious business, founded in 1965, to open two locations, at Corso del Popolo 1349 and Riva Merlin.
If you are looking for a unique, characteristic, and exclusive Murano glass nativity scene, Venturini Souvenirs is definitely for you!
One of the most elaborate, complex, and precious nativity scenes for the masterful skill that made its creation possible, is enclosed inside a fine Christmas sphere in Murano glass, purple in color with blue and shiny gold decorations on the outside, completely gilded on the inside.
The Christmas ball bears an opening that allows you to admire the minute and detailed reproduction of the nativity kept inside, created using the lampworking technique.
The company offers a wide range of nativity scenes and Christmas ornaments of good taste and extraordinary craftsmanship that recall the style of the composition described above, excellent for giving your home that touch of ancient charm that Murano art makes unique and inimitable.
