HISTORY OF GLASS MOSAIC

Even though some glass pieces were already found in the mosaics of Mesopotamia during the IV millennium B.C., the glass art of producing smalti seems to be born in Egypt and then transferred in Persia, between the Assyrians and finally in Greece, where the Romans learned it.

At the end of the XII century the Venetians imported that glass art from Constantinople where it started technical improvements since the IV century A.C.
Since 1291 the whole glass production was transferred on Murano for security and hygiene problems. This technique developed on this island and during the XV century reached very high levels with the glass master Angelo Barovier and the mosaicist Michele Giambono who directed the factories of Murano and used all the infinite range of colours that compete with the paintbrush.

The methods for the production of the smalti were always kept secret.
After two centuries of decadence of this glass art on Murano, Lorenzo Radi improved the ancient tradition and Antonio Salviati, using Radi's experience, created mosaic laboratories and "The Venice and Murano Glass and Mosaic Company"(1872), so he could further improve the smalti and the technique of the gold production.

Vincenzo Moretti too contributed extending the already large range of colours in "The Venice and Murano Glass and Mosaic Company". In 1888 Angelo Orsoni became the owner of the factory founded by Giandomenico Facchina in Venice that produced smalti and golds for mosaics.

In 1926 Ugo Donà took over all Radi's tools and his workers and formed his firm. From then on the quality of Donà's products is very hard to achieve and, in other words, it's insuperable.

At present Mosaici Donà Murano of Donà Stefano (Ugo Donà's grandson) is the only artisan firm which produces both smalti and golds for mosaics following the antiques artisan techniques of the past.