Across the Venetian Lagoon, Where Glass and Fate Meet

September 17, 202613 views

VeniceMuranoBuranoMurano GlassJoe TilsonAusonia HungariaPop ArtHandmade GlassArt GlassTravel

On my recent trip to Venice, I set out across the lagoon in search of authentic glass, genuine craftsmanship and, hopefully, a few treasures to bring home to THRIFTWORX. What I found was far more than stock. I found family histories, unexpected connections and a reminder that the true beauty of Venetian glass lies with the people who create it.

My journey took me first to Murano, where I stumbled upon the Yalos Murano glass factory, owned by the Ferro family.

The moment I entered the factory store, I was met by a sea of colour. After hours beneath the fierce Venetian sun, it was a welcome sight for tired eyes. Everywhere I looked there were bowls, tableware, wall decorations, sculptural pieces and even magnificent glass sinks. Every surface seemed to offer a different pattern, colour or texture.

Yalos is part of a glassmaking story that stretches back centuries. The Ferro family traces its connection to Murano glassmaking back to 1630. Today, Yalos carries that heritage forward by combining traditional Murano craftsmanship with contemporary forms, bold colours and richly textured finishes.

I had originally stopped to enquire about purchasing some pressed-glass lion-head medallions for my sales in the United States. We quickly struck a deal, but naturally, I could not stop there.

I continued through the warehouse, choosing a few personal pieces and discovering something particularly exciting: the remaining stock of sample glass tiles connected to the late British artist Joe Tilson. These experimental pieces had been manufactured at the factory during work associated with Tilson’s extraordinary installation at the Grande Albergo Ausonia & Hungaria on the Venice Lido.

Tilson was one of the leading figures of British Pop Art and maintained a lifelong fascination with Italy. The installation covers more than 400 square metres of the hotel’s façade and has been described as the largest Murano glass artwork in Europe. Its colourful geometric forms transformed the building into a monumental piece of public art.

To discover surviving factory samples connected to that project felt like uncovering a small piece of modern art history.

With my purchases arranged, I continued to Burano and enjoyed a lovely lunch among the island’s brightly painted houses. Yet, even while eating, I could not stop thinking about everything I had left behind at Yalos.

By the end of lunch, temptation had won.

I returned to the factory and picked up even more treasures. My mind was already racing with possibilities. I could picture these pieces crossing the Atlantic, appearing in THRIFTWORX shows and eventually finding homes with collectors throughout the United States.

Later that afternoon, just before leaving the island to catch the final water bus, I stopped at a small artisan workshop called Artistico Bombon. Inside were colourful glass fruits, candies and miniature decorative creations, each one handmade with a wonderfully playful personality.

Artistico Bombon has been producing small Murano glass treasures in Burano since 1992. It is a family workshop where the creations are not anonymous souvenirs brought in from elsewhere. They are made by the very people standing behind the counter, continuing the traditions of Venetian glassmaking on a smaller and more intimate scale.

The young man in the shop proudly explained that everything was created there by him and his father.

As I looked around, I noticed several beautiful opalescent glasses near the cash register. I immediately recognised them as designs I had seen at the Yalos factory earlier that day.

I picked one up, and he casually mentioned that the owner of Yalos was his girlfriend’s father.

As if the coincidence were not already perfect, his girlfriend happened to be visiting the shop at that very moment. She explained that the woman I had spoken with at the factory was her aunt. We laughed about the fact that she would not be receiving any commission for my purchases that day. She then asked about the glass sink I had bought, and we began discussing its design.

In that moment, the islands suddenly felt very small.

Here were two glassmaking families, connected not only by their craft but also by their lives, working just one short water bus journey apart. One created tableware, architectural glass, wall decorations and ambitious contemporary designs. The other produced miniature fruits, sweets and joyful handmade curiosities.

Different scales and different styles, but the same pride in creating something genuine.

Of course, I could not leave Artistico Bombon empty-handed. I selected some of their wonderfully colourful creations and began discussing future purchases. Once again, I found people who were open, enthusiastic and genuinely excited by the idea of their work reaching new customers.

That openness was refreshing. Living in France, I have become accustomed to business enquiries sometimes being met with a firm no before the possibilities have even been considered. Here, every question seemed to be answered with curiosity.

The artisans were enthusiastic about sending their work to me in France and directly to my customers in the United States. They understood that their creations could travel beyond the Venetian lagoon without losing the story of where they came from.

With my bags considerably heavier and my feet considerably sorer, I finally began the walk back to the water. I caught the final vaporetto towards Venice and crossed the lagoon as daylight began to fade.