意大利莫丽娜(Murrina)琉璃饰品

提起意大利的工艺品，首先想到的便是MURRINA(莫丽娜)琉璃饰品。它发源于威尼斯一个叫茉拉诺(MURANO)的小岛上，至今已有几百年的历史，MURRINA一词也由这个小岛的名字演变而来。这种工艺饰品是采用古老而独特的秘方把不同燃点的天然矿物质熔在一起，完整地烧制而成。其色彩缤纷、造型生动，令人目不暇接，感叹不已。

莫丽娜琉璃饰品是将不同的矿物质熔在一起，烧制成细细的彩色琉璃柱，然后截成长短不同的小柱，放进熔炉烧制成不同的图案造型。经过与金属、皮革或其它材料组合搭配，就成了我们今天看到的各种项链、手链、戒指、耳坠、等五颜六色的琉璃装饰品。它不仅展现了意大利独特的设计和风情，也为追逐时尚与美丽的女性增添了一份亮丽和妩媚。

Murano Glass From Italy
Murano Glass is fascinating handcrafts, which is famous through out the world. Many people love its unique and amazing color combinations. Some of them may even treat it as a work of art. There is also a legend saying that glass actually is a gift from the Gods. It is, however, incredible to say that such a wonderful substance is made of sand combined with some chemicals and metals. How can these ordinary elements turn out as Murano Glass?

Traditional Murano Glass-Making
The key of success for making glass is to take equilibrium in every procedure. Temperature control is also essential to decide the quality. It reaches at about 1200-1300 degrees C when the first load is placed in the furnace. Then all the components together with color and melting agents will be melt at 1700 degrees C. Limestone acts as a stabilizing agent while nitrate and arsenic are added to expulse the air bubbles to make the fusion pure. Next the temperature is lowered to around 1200 degrees C. to allow the suitable viscosity. The fusion is then placed in a slow-baking furnace for a few days to form a workable glob. Any shapes can be applied to this glob by blowing air in. Immersing it in water for several times to remove impurities and enhance the crystallization process. Finally the glass is put in a cooling oven to cool down very slowly to room temperature. This can avoid breaking the glass products due to thermal stress. All these technical but original processes make a unique and colorful Murano Glass product done.

Nowadays, many craftsmen in Italy still keep using the basic instruments for glasswork. In order words, glass making in Murano remains hand-made production with traditional procedures.