The Origins of Micheluzzi Glass: How We Started Our Glass Collection
Since the birth of our glass collection, many things have changed for us “Micheluzzi Sisters”. In fact, this project has completely changed our lives in various aspects… After living abroad for years, we both have returned to Venice and our bond with this magical place that we call home is now stronger than ever!
Once we came back to our beloved lagoon, we had truly rediscovered glass. Closely observing and participating in the process of glassmaking is an extraordinary experience. We always got along as sisters and done many things together, but we definitely did not expect to be working together… now we are inseparable!
Venice, glass and our family: the ingredients were all there... So maybe it was fate!
Once we came back to our beloved lagoon, we had truly rediscovered glass. Closely observing and participating in the process of glassmaking is an extraordinary experience. We always got along as sisters and done many things together, but we definitely did not expect to be working together… now we are inseparable!
Venice, glass and our family: the ingredients were all there... So maybe it was fate!
But let's take a step back and explain our story with a bit of context.
We have always admired our father’s work. Growing up, we spent a lot of time in his gallery. Sometimes, he would even take us to the furnace in Murano, where all the production takes place. We were obviously fascinated by his craft and talent; however we never thought we could follow his footsteps. We viewed his work as unique and associated it exclusively with him. Therefore, we followed our own paths, not even thinking about the possibility of working with glass.
We have always admired our father’s work. Growing up, we spent a lot of time in his gallery. Sometimes, he would even take us to the furnace in Murano, where all the production takes place. We were obviously fascinated by his craft and talent; however we never thought we could follow his footsteps. We viewed his work as unique and associated it exclusively with him. Therefore, we followed our own paths, not even thinking about the possibility of working with glass.
In fact, before the birth of Micheluzzi Glass, we were both living in London in 2019, one working in an art gallery (Elena), and the other (Margherita) in the online fashion and homeware industry. Surely; London, art and fashion were key experiences for us, but along this very pathway, we got hooked with Venice, Murano and glass. All familiar aspects of our childhood that we used to take for granted. And it is precisely this sense of belonging that has given us the push to start Micheluzzi Glass.
It all started like this...
It was December 2018 when we were living in London and our parents had come to visit us for the Christmas holidays.
While looking through the shop windows, we came across a sale of luxury home furnishings and decorative items. Coincidentally, there were some Murano glassware items too.
Glassware is generally not the type of object that is a part of our father’s creative repertoire. But, since the particular glass was made in Murano, he was curious to see what they were like, how they were presented, what their audience and market was like.
It was December 2018 when we were living in London and our parents had come to visit us for the Christmas holidays.
While looking through the shop windows, we came across a sale of luxury home furnishings and decorative items. Coincidentally, there were some Murano glassware items too.
Glassware is generally not the type of object that is a part of our father’s creative repertoire. But, since the particular glass was made in Murano, he was curious to see what they were like, how they were presented, what their audience and market was like.
We both intervened by explaining to him why beautiful glasses hand-made in Murano would certainly be a great success. Soon enough, we were jokingly teasing him by saying that he should start a glassware collection, too. From that moment, many ideas and conversations have been unchained. Then, out of nowhere he proposed: "Why don’t you visit the furnace with me and see if you could come up with any ideas for a new collection?" We were both feeling curious and excited about the idea. We started thinking, drawing and studying glass catalogues. That little push was enough to make us rediscover a world that we had always overlooked.
That was the precise moment in which Micheluzzi Glass was born. It was at the end of January 2019 when we visited the furnace in Murano for our own glassware collection. Being there no longer as spectators but finally actively participating in the creative process, completely changed our perspective about the glass world. Our first idea was our Mosso glasses, and we started from there! Then we kept experimenting, taking advantage of opportunities until our ideas began to mold into our brand.
After the very first months of experimenting with glass and our ideas, we’ve already completely fallen in love with this unique craft. For a while, we tried managing the production intermittently. We were flying in and out from London on any occasion. But soon enough we realized that we had to work on this project full time if we wanted to make process. It was a moment of decision. We resigned from our jobs in London and moved back to Venice, where we officially started Micheluzzi Glass.
These past two years have been really intense and full of experimenting, yet we are always on the look for new ideas that will put our creativity to test.
These past two years have been really intense and full of experimenting, yet we are always on the look for new ideas that will put our creativity to test.
Marco, one last question. We know every furnace has it’s what is called it’s “book of recipes” for colours. Can you tell us more about this, without revealing too many secrets…
"Yes, each furnace has its own recipes. Here we use my book which I made over a lifetime. Some colours I experimented with here. Other colours I brought with me after working and in other furnaces. Everyone does that… Then also the components are different. There are furnaces in Murano that have very different components from ours. And not only the colours change a lot, but also the consistency of the glass.
"Yes, each furnace has its own recipes. Here we use my book which I made over a lifetime. Some colours I experimented with here. Other colours I brought with me after working and in other furnaces. Everyone does that… Then also the components are different. There are furnaces in Murano that have very different components from ours. And not only the colours change a lot, but also the consistency of the glass.
We really hope you enjoyed this first chapter of our diary.
If you want to see the collection of glassware that sparked Micheluzzi Glass, discover more on our online shop.
If you want to see the collection of glassware that sparked Micheluzzi Glass, discover more on our online shop.