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Their history is interconnected closely with the history of Venetian glass and the world renowned Venetian glass makers. Chandeliers hailing from Murano are Venetian masterpieces, which function with the practically of all chandeliers, but also as extravagant and beautiful works of art. They have an extensive and interesting history and continue to be produced in Venice today, and continue to be one of the Venetian glassmaking industries best-known and most universally successful products.

These pretty and flirtatious glass chandeliers became popular after the iron, wood and brass era of chandeliers, and instantly brought a new dimension of fun and fashion to the idea of chandelier. While the chandeliers may have a very fun and enjoyable appearance, the production of Murano glass has been a matter of critical seriousness for centuries. It was round the year 1700 that Venetian glassmakers began to produce the very first Murano glass chandeliers. Venetian glass had been in production since the early 13th century, and was renowned as the most beautiful and purest glass in the world. Venetian glassmakers had always excelled at making truly beautiful and original works of art for the people of Murano, and it wasn't long before they used their glass to produce many other products, such as Murano glass mirrors, and, of course, Murano glass chandeliers.

Traditionally, a Murano chandelier would feature intricate arabesques of leaves and flowers and would often also incorporate coloured glass, made possible by the unique type of glass the glassmakers of Murano used. The glass they worked with was so unique, as it was soda glass (famed for its extraordinary lightness), but also contained a small quality of lime, and was a complete contrast to all different types of glass produced in the world at that time. Murano glassmakers were highly dedicated to the production to ensure that every chandelier would be made perfectly. The precision required to twist and shape the chandelier required a massive amount of skill and time.

The earliest example of a Venetian glass chandelier was one produced for Frederick IV of Denmark, who travelled to Murano in 1709, specifically to acquire a chandelier, and by 1718, a chandelier was to be found in his inventory, along with various other Venetian glassware, and continues to hang in the palace today.
The production of glass in Murano fell in 1797 due to the occupation of the Venetian republic by the armies of Napoleon, and many of the glassworks closed and the production of the Murano glass chandeliers halted. This was until the mid 19th century, when a revival of Murano glass production took place, and Venetian and Murano glass and their products became intensely popular again. In modern day, Murano glass chandelier's continued to be extremely popular and one of the most beautiful and decorative types of chandelier. Any owner of a Murano chandelier appreciates that they are a stunning and magnificent and truly unique work of art.

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