Giovanni Sarpellon
The Professor – Observations on Murano
The professor of sociology – now retired – who not only describes critically the social structure of Murano and its evolvement over centuries has dedicated lots of his knowledge with regard to the evolution of its glass industry and analyzed the way production is performed.
Learning and teaching was local, family operations were passed on from father to son. L’Abate Zanetti (Vincenzo 1824–1883) launched a school in 1862 to teach apprentices glass making and encourage new glass design at the same time as the glass museum opened on Murano.
The big factories have all been transformed and perception of this hard job has been eroded. The scale of the operations has shrunk substantially. Recruitment of big names as designers or masters of glass art is fashionable – but at the same time it is ever more difficult to keep no-name maestri to perform the hard work in the furnaces.
A major turning point in the actual situation is the drain of workforce in such a demanding job environment. More convenient alternatives have become popular with perhaps better pay. He also speaks about the famous producers like Barovier, Seguso, Cenedese, Toso or Venini who amongst many other names have a splendid history in their respective field of operation.
Now, the big industry has shrunk, artisans find it extremely difficult to survive in an ever more competitive market exposed not only to reduced demand for their product – namely lighting and tableware - but confronted with cheap foreign competition, increasing regulation and the growing need for automation of the production process.
Marketing has become an important factor to achieve recognition of the name in a shrinking market for excellent glass ware. Owner and producer are merging in a single and small operation – providing limited series with a profit margin. Carlo Moretti seems to be one to have successfully established his trademark. Price levels are a reflection of the reality in this competitive world.
Giovanni has written books also together with Gianni Moretti about the “perle and murrine veneziane” – they represent a core feature of prestigious glass hand-made works. These books are full of beautiful photos and designs describing this unique art of glass making.
