AFFINAGGIO

The process that rids of the air bubbles which form within the glass batch due to chemical reaction between the various component. The end result is a more uniform glass mixture.

ALBUOL

Recipient into which the various component are measured out for the preparation the glass mix.

AVVENTURINA

A cinnamon-yellow glass containing minute crystals of copper that precipitate during the cooling process and result in a sparkling effect throughout the glass. The name accenturina derives from the word “ventura” [luck]. A factor which plays an importatnt part in its production: even if one follows all the complex technical requirements precisely, the success of the precipitation process is not always guaranteed. English term: Aventurine.

BALOTON

A mould whose inner surface is covered with square-based pyramidal points that create a raised criss-cross pattern on the finished glass.

BANCHETTO

A recipient for either waste product or object that are abandoned during the working process

BOLO

(Also known as ea, posta, paraison or pearson) The Quantity of glass lifted from the crucible at the end of the blowpipe, the pontil or the gathering-iron. Initially pear-shaped, it’s then worked into a finished object. The term is also used for a partially-worked lump of glass. In english, the term “gater” is used for the initial lump of glass, which – once partially worked – becomes the “parison”

BORSELLA

Pincers of various size and shape used in modelling, nipping cutting or decorating the glass being worked

BRONZIN

A slab that was once of marble or bronze and is now made of iron. It is on this surface that the glass-maker carries out the process know as marmorizzazzione – that is rolling the gather backwards and forwads to give it its typical pear shape. Rnglis term: marver (from the frenc marbre= marble)

CANNA DA SOFFIO

A hollow iron tube that is slightly conical at one end. 1.35 to 1.75 metres in lenght an 1-4.25cms in diametrùer, it is used to nlow the glass,which may either be worked free-form or else shaped whitin a mould.

CANNA DI VETRO

A small rod of glass of varying thickness, this may either be monocrhome or made up of layers of different coloured glass.Sliced into sections, these rods are used to make murrino (or mosaic) glass;they can also be used whole in the production of filigree glass.

CANNA MILLEFIORI

A road of various layers of different outlines and colours. This is cut into section to produce terrerae of exactly the same pattern and colour.

CAZZA OR CASSA

A long-handled, spherical-bodied container like a large spoon used to skim off the salt that comes to the surface during the fusion process, or else to transfer the molten glass from the crucible (or pot) to other containers.

COMPASSO

With curved or straight legs, these hinged compasses are used to check the size of an object during the workin process.

COPERTA

A uniform layer of glass added over a central core.

CRISTALLO

Colourless and very clear glass produced using purified raw materials(for example, soda ash flux) it is also “bleached” by the use of manganese dioxide.

CROGIOLO

(Also known as Padella): of varying sizes and capacities,these containers in material of great heat-resistance are placed within the fusion furnace itself and contain the fused batch of glass.

FILIGRANA

A very refined type of decorative glass that was developed on Murano in the first half of the sixteenth century. It is composed of fine rods of crystal containing threads lattimo or coloured glass. English term : Filigree

FILIGRANA A RETORTOLI

A variation on filigreeg glass. Here the lattimo or coloured threads within the crystal rods are twisted upon themselves to form ritorti.

FILIGRANA A RETICELLO

Another variety of filigree glass, which is also know as doppia filigrana, because it contains rods that are laid across each other to form a reticulate pattern.

FORCELLA

A three-metre-long forked instrumen which is used to move the objects about within the lehr.

FORNO A CROGIOLI

The fusion furnace, within which the glass batch is fused inside heat-resistant containers know as crogioli.

FORNO DI RICOTTURA

The furnace within which the formed objects go through the slow process of cooling which anneals the glass. English term: Leer or Lehr

FRITTA

With the texture of a dry sponge, this is the partially-vitifried mix that one obtains by heating the flux (soda ash) and vitrifyng agent (sand) to around 700°C

INCALMO

A technique that involves the creation of an object from various, individually worked, parts which are then joined togheter using heat.

INCISIONE ALL’ACIDO

The acid used for this type of engraving work is hyrofluoric acid. The end result can vary from very slight superficial marks to deeply-incised cuts.

INCISIONE ALLA RUOTA

Copper wheels coated with abrasive material make it possible to cut formal patterns or figurative decoration into the surface of a finished glass object. English term: Copper-wheel engraving.

LATTIMO

This is porcelaine-like, opaque white glass takes its name frome the italian “milk”(latte). It is usually rended opaque using calcined leadtin or tin oxide (the same process as that used in makin majolica enamels)

MAGIOSSO

A hollow hemispherical tool in wood, used to give the gather a rounded form.

MANERETTA

A tool used in creating certain kinds of surface decoration on the glass – for example, in making “vetro a piume”.

MARMORIZZAR

To roll the gather backwards and forwards on the Bronzin (marvel) in order to give it the desired form and to cool it down so that it can be returned to the crucible for another gather of glass, english term: “To Marvel”.

MEZZA STAMPATURA

A decorative technique already in use in the fifteenth century. A cap of hot glass was added to the bottom of the blown glass object and the object was then inserted in a open mould to achieve a ribbing effect. “Dip Mould

MORISE

A typical form of decoration of Murano glass. A still malleable thread of glass is applied to an object and then nipped into shaoe using a special pincer. called Borselle da pissegiar.

PALETTA

A wood and iron tool, like a small spade,that is used in forming objects for example to make surface completely flat.

PARESON

see Bolo.

PEA

See Bolo

PIAZZA

The group of workers that assist the master-maker, or gaffer.English term: Chair.

RIGADIN

Thin ribbing on the surface of the glass,achieved by use of an open mould.

ROSETTA

A hollow polychrome glass rod made up of different layers of glass forming a particular decorative pattern. This is then sliced into section to form Rosetta beads.

ROTTAMI DI VETRO

The glass that hardens and remains attacched to the end of blowpipe and pontil, as well as fragments of broken objects or pieces rejected because imperfect. All of these are then re-fused in glass batch. English term: Cullet

VETRO BATTUTO

A lapping-wheel is used to work the surface of the glass, leaving small, irregular and rounded”depressions” that all run in the same direction. The finished effect is ,in appearence like that of a hammered sheet of metal.

VETRO CALCEDONIO

A type of decorative glass made by mixing silver salt and other oxide colorants with the batch. The end appearance is like that of such semi.precious stones as agate,chalcendony, onyx malachite and lapis lazuli. “Calcedonio”.

VETRO FENICIO

This “phoenician glass” is also known as : “Vetro a piume”.The lattimo filaments within the glass are “combed” using a special instrument “maneretta”. To create an undulated decorative effect similar to that in vetro a festoni.

VETRO GHIACCIO

This takes its name from its similarity to cracked ice. The craquelure here is created by plunging the half-finished object into cold water and then returning it to the furnace.

VETRO MOSAICO

This “mosaic glass” is made of tesserae (sliced section of glass rods) that are arranged in patterns and then fused together.

VETRO PRIMAVERA

This ornamental glas was created by Ercole Barovier , it has a translucid surface shot throught with small cracks. The handles and rims of objects made in this material are in black glass.

VETRO PULEGOSO

Created by Venini, this type of glass contains a number of tiny air bubbles (Pulegosi) which give it a pitted appearance.

VETRO SCAVO

The surface of this glass rough with an opaque finish- in imitation of the glassware of classical antiquity. The opaque finish is generally grey, but there may be striations of various colours.

VETRO SOMMERSO

A type of glass that results from immerging the parison – while being worked- in crucibles of different coloured glass. The end result is an object made up of – often thick- layers of different coloured, transparent glass.