Murano glass has been a famous product of the Venetian island of Murano for centuries. Located off the shore of Venice, Italy, Murano was a commercial port as far back as the 7th century. By the 10th century it had become a well-known city of trade. Today, Murano remains a destination for tourists and art and jewelry lovers alike.

Most Murano beads are made using the wound lampworking or torch and mandrel technique; an approach which was invented by a Murano glass-master in the 1700's. The lampwork method is the most time consuming mode of glass bead making as each bead must be formed individually. Using a torch for heat, Murano glass canes and tubes are heated to a molten state and wrapped around a metal rod until the ideal shape is achieved. Several layers of different colored glass as well as gold and silver leaf are used to produce the desired effect. After the pendant is slowly cooled, it is removed from the rod which produces a hole for eventual stringing.

To possess an imported Italian glass pendant comes at a premium price. The piece that you have acquired was not made in Italy; however it was made using the same timeless technique and has the same exceptional quality at a reasonable value.