Drinking cups whose play of colours resembles the light of the lagoon, champagne flutes with carnivalesque curls, vases in ceremonial black-and-gold design – with the glasses made by Carlo Moretti the magic of Venice has become the centre of attention at round tables across the world for over 50 years.

As an island of timeless beauty in the sea of changing fashions the L’Isola showroom of the family business today presents itself at Venice’s Campo San Moisè, near St. Mark’s Square. Between showcases of Prada handbags and Valentino costumes the top products of local artisanry for which Venice has been envied for centuries are celebrated here in this street filled with the boutiques of Italian global players.

Matched by virtually no other workshop, the Morettis understand how to transfer the tradition of the glass-blowing island of Murano to objects whose modern shapes fit our times perfectly.

Prominent aficionados such as Ernst August, Prince of Hanover and spouse Caroline of Monaco, musical tycoon Andrew Lloyd Webber, football star David Beckham and movie actor Dennis Hopper know how to appreciate this. When the shop in Paolo Martinuzzi’s rough wood-and-steel design reminiscent of production plants happens to be closed during normal business hours, it may just be that Sir Elton John is on a shopping tour inside.

The British pop singer and composer with a Venetian residence on the island of Guidecca owns an extensive glass collection and makes his selections with an expert’s eye during his stays in Venice. “He knows exactly what he wants and decides quickly,” reveals company director Giovanni Moretti. And there’s more: Elton John, known for his exquisite parties in Venice, has also sparked a passion for beautiful glass among his friends. “Through him,” says Giovanni Moretti “many big names from the music industry have come to us in Murano.”

On the lagoon island, home to Venetian glass factories since the 13th century, together with Venini the Carlo Moretti brand has mounted a quality offensive against the shoddy miniatures of Chinese origin and anaemic crystal knock-offs.

The world-famous companies reside near the Colonna landing stage along both sides of the Rio dei Vetrai, not just with each of their own branch offices, but also with a shared showroom. New items first appear in this treasure chest of select glass design.

Moretti’s I Piccoli series was successful from the very start. With the collection of imaginative shapes between vases and cups and with the abstract décor of coloured bands applied to the vessel wall and melding into one another, the vessels, none of which measures over 25 centimetres in height, boast the strengths of the company in 30 different variations.

Whether it’s babies, puppies or beautiful glasses – it’s the small and fine things that touch the human soul in a special way, philosophises Giovanni Moretti while cradling an Eclissi in his hands, an object in great demand. There are 333 numbered editions at a price of approximately EUR 220 for each model in the I Piccoli collection. When one edition is sold out, the next model is added in order to complete the series of 30 glasses. Every year six new designs are added to the numerous collections of drinking glasses.

“We are always producing something new and adding to our existing lines,” explains Giovanni Moretti, who also took over creative duties following the death of his brother Carlo. Unlike his competitors on Murano, Moretti does not employ a single outstanding glass master who does the preliminary work for others, but instead delegates responsibilities to many hands.

Eighteen craftsmen form a production chain for the numerous individual operations which are required to transform the red-hot lumps of molten glass from the oven into objects of desire. When the oldest master goes into retirement the others move up a notch – and a 15-year-old boy is hired to begin his career at the manufactory.

This is because everyone on Murano knows that you have to start early with the art of glass making. “It demands,” says Giovanni Moretti “complete dedication.”

Text: Ruth Händler

L’Isola, Showroom Carlo Moretti, San Marco 1468, Campo San Moisè, I-30124 Venedig, Tel.+39/041/523 19 73, Fax +39/041/522 31 18, info@lisola.com, http://www.carlomoretti.com/