Murano Glass and the Venice Biennale

Murano glass production at the prestigious Venetian event from the 1910s to the 1930s

The presence of Murano glass at the Venice Biennale dates back to the early twentieth century when these precious, fragile artefacts were occasionally exhibited at the event. It was only from the 1910s onwards that glass works were exhibited on a regular basis as objects in their own right, appearing in the rooms of the central pavilion from 1912 to 1930. It was not until 1932 that glass and the decorative arts were given their own dedicated space in the Giardini with the construction of the Venezia pavilion.

This volume examines this significant period which saw Murano glass gradually finding its place at the Venice Biennale, first through the artists choosing to use this material for their works, and later through the glassworks, sometimes drawing upon the creativity of painters and sculptors.

This catalogue, which is the result of extensive bibliographic and documentary research in the Biennale historical archive, as well as in public and private archives, features period photographs, drawings, and documents, many previously unpublished, showcasing the works exhibited in the various Biennales. This glass production is exemplified through a careful selection of over 130 works by artists and glassmakers who played a leading role in a historical moment marking the entry of a so-called minor art into the realm of major arts.