MURANOCLOWNS.US

From an early date the Republic organized its glass trade and industry in a conscious effort to achieve a worldwide monopoly. Glassmakers were already subject to some rules in the 12th century. The famous Capitulare de Fiolaris dating from 1271, is the first statute of the glassmaker's art, containing rules and regulations for all people involved in glassmaking, including the furnace owners and the youngest apprentices, who were by the all organized in a guild of glassmakers. The "Capitulares" was regularly amended until the last version was issued in 1776... A decree of November 8th 1291 forbade the establishment of new glasshouses in Venice. This meant that soon after the entire glass industry, with the exception of some lampworkers and beadmakers, was concentrated on the island of Murano, as it still is today. Since the 13th century Venetian glass has been known in Europe and in the Near East for its special qualities of transparency and its elegant shapes.