Storia del vetro di Murano
Ettore Bigaglia. The Inventory of the “Negozio alla croce d'oro” dated 2 April 1714
The most important among the Murano glasswork owners of the late XVIII century, was Ettore Bigaglia. In the first “comparto” documents which we studied he appears as an owner of big glassworks specialized both in crystal glassware and in “quari e lastre”, that are glass sheets for mirrors and window panes.
He went down in the history of glass technology thanks to some recipes for crystal glass, one of them connected with pieces made for “Serenissimo D. Amburgo”. Tullio Toninato and Cesare Moretti identified this individual with King Frederick of Danemark, who resided in Venice between 1708 and 1709.
Ettore Bigaglia died in 1694, leaving his “Alla croce d'oro” (Golden cross) glassworks to Adriana Zanon, his widow. According to the rules of the Arte, or glassblowers' guild, she continued the glasswork activity, but the firm had to be run by “ a competent Murano man who could act as the owner”. To keep production under control, Adriana periodically made an inventory of the glassworks crafted in the workshop.
The inventory taken on April 2nd, 1714, lists many interesting items which, at least partially, can be identified thanks to the pieces purchased by the King of Danemark in Venice. One of his suppliers was Ettore Bigaglia, as we have previously shown. Two lists of the Venetian glassware presented to the emperor of China in 1720 can also be useful to identify other glass items.
Paolo Zecchin Via Cappuccina 13 Mestre Venezia
The most important among the Murano glasswork owners of the late XVIII century, was Ettore Bigaglia. In the first “comparto” documents which we studied he appears as an owner of big glassworks specialized both in crystal glassware and in “quari e lastre”, that are glass sheets for mirrors and window panes. He went down in the history of glass technology thanks to some recipes for crystal glass, one of them connected with pieces made for “Serenissimo D. Amburgo”. Tullio Toninato and Cesare Moretti identified this individual with King Frederick of Danemark, who resided in Venice between 1708 and 1709. Ettore Bigaglia died in 1694, leaving his “Alla croce d'oro” (Golden cross) glassworks to Adriana Zanon, his widow. According to the rules of the Arte, or glassblowers' guild, she continued the glasswork activity, but the firm had to be run by “ a competent Murano man who could act as the owner”. To keep production under control, Adriana periodically made an inventory of the glassworks crafted in the workshop. The inventory taken on April 2nd, 1714, lists many interesting items which, at least partially, can be identified thanks to the pieces purchased by the King of Danemark in Venice. One of his suppliers was Ettore Bigaglia, as we have previously shown. Two lists of the Venetian glassware presented to the emperor of China in 1720 can also be useful to identify other glass items.