"Rules Are Made to Be Broken" — 3 Venetian Studios on the Secrets Behind Murano Glass Chandeliers

A modern living room featuring a mixture of mid-century modern and contemporary glamour decor showcases a stunning golden and white Murano glass chandelier along with leather furniture, sleek coffee tables, and wall art.

I'll go straight to the point: the perfect Murano glass chandelier doesn't exist. It is a myth, a byproduct of our need for control and idealization, but "rules are made to be broken," world-acclaimed glass artist Adriano Berengo tells me, "and the best chandeliers are those that create their own." That's where their beauty resides, in "that every object is different — each has its soul", and this article will strive to exemplify the range of approaches and aspirations converging into the making of the famed Venetian staple, starting with those adopted by three leading local studios.

While there is no univocal pathway to crafting these floating masterpieces, a profound respect for its centuries-spanning tradition is what unites all emerging designers — or established — artists and manufacturers working in Murano glass today. And that's because without understanding the medium's past, there is no way to take it into the future.