The Murano Glass Aquarium World

Have you ever wanted an aquarium, with lots of tropical fishes in your livingroom? Just to adorn a corner of the room, reproducing a small piece of nature on a fine piece of forniture.
Well, having an aquarium in your own home is a symbol of good taste and elegance. But, since they are a reproduction of an indeed complex ecosystem, they require constant and expensive cares. For this reason, Murano glass aquariums are an effective solution.
Pure transparency given by crystal clear glass, waters rich in detailed fishes and corals, sleek and sober lines, Murano glass aquariums are the result of a refined technique: the aquarium is - in fact - an article already known in the Muranese tradition, which over the years has been reworked and redesigned in shapes and colours. The first examples of Murano glass aquariums have been designed and manufactured in 1950 by Cenedese glassworks and Alfredo Barbini.
Designed as solid geometrical forms in which marine animals and plant life have been trapped, these works contain in one artifact different techniques that were often innovative for the time .
In the early 90s Franco Angi, art director at MuranoVitrum, made aquariums more affordable. With the collaboration of Umberto Ragazzi, Franco created the little bags and goldfish bowls, that in a few years have invaded almost all the specialty shops of Venice.
Later he has designed the faucet aquarium, brought to life by Cristiano Balbi: This funny aquarium is still in production today and is one of the leading articles of MuranoVitrum production.

See Faucets designed by Franco Angi
See the Aquarium collection

Murano Nowadays
While walking in calle Frezzaria or under the arcades of the Procuratie in San Marco Square - the heart of Venice - stop to admire the aquariums on display in our MuranoVitrum stores.
You will see a vast collection of handmade aquariums, among which you can notice some peculiar ones.
Aquariums have a special meaning in a city like Venice. If you have ever paid attention, it looks like a sea creature: when viewed from above, the town looks like a fish in the lagoon lying on its side. Moreover, Venice is built on tiny islands upon the lagoon: the connection with water is very strong.
The relationship with the Venetian thalassocracy and its sea was so important that in the year 1000 a.D. the “Marriage to the Adriatic sea” was created to celebrate the Venetian dominion over the sea and to celebrate the conquest of Dalmatia. Through this annual ceremony, the city of Venice and the Adriatic sea were symbolically joined in matrimony with the latin phrase «Desponsamus te, mare. In signum veri perpetuique dominii» (We marry you, sea. In the sign of true and everlasting dominion).
It was a statement of co-exhistence but also commitment one to another. The link between Venice, the sea, and its creatures is strong and unbreakable.
Murano glass aquariums are a clear testimony and celebration of this important bond. That’s why they are a nice idea for an original souvenir or collectible - rather than the usual gondola.


Discover more Aquariums on our website