By Louise Irvine
In Italian, the Moleria is a workshop for the grinding of glass and we are delighted to present new work by Pietro and Riccardo Ferro who are masters of this technique in Murano. The collection is curated by Sergio Gnesin who is well known at WMODA for his selling exhibitions of Murano glass art. Our new Studio Collection at WMODA has spectacular carved vases by the Ferro brothers for sale as well as elegant stemware for holiday entertaining.
Pietro and Riccardo Ferro started working in different glass factories at a very young age. They learned all the Murano processes starting with blowing and sculpting molten glass and earned the prestigious title of maestro. They became experts at cold working with abrasive spinning wheels to decorate the surface of the glass along with diamond scribing and stipple engraving. These techniques were used in Murano as far back as the 16th century but Venetian glass carving came to prominence in 1940 with the work of Carlo Scarpa, the Artistic Director at the Venini factory. He designed deep cuts, light grinding effects known as Velati (veiled) and a bold hammered finish called Battuti.
The Ferro Brothers have their own studio employing all these techniques and over the years they have assisted many other Italian glass artists in creating masterpieces, notably Lino Tagliapietra and Pino Signoretto. The trademarks of Pietro and Riccardo’s own works of art are vivid colors and energetic textures. They cradle each vase for hours, days, and often weeks, grinding away layers to reveal what lies underneath. Their dramatic cuts are sometimes five layers deep but there is always the danger that the piece will shatter before it is completed so it is a painstaking process.
Their love of color can also be appreciated in their fused glass art, notably the Scottish panel which can also be seen on display in the Studio Collection at WMODA. This illuminated design is reminiscent of a brilliant tartan woven with strands of glass in all the colors of the rainbow.
Carving stemware is another specialty of the Ferro brothers and they produce stunning sets of drinking glasses. The complete set, which can be purchased from WMODA, comprises 31 pieces including a decanter, 6 champagne flutes, 6 red wine, 6 white wine, 6 tumblers and 6 water glasses. Each glass type can be ordered in sets of six and individually decorated so that guests can have different patterns. What a perfect way to celebrate the holiday season!
The work of the Ferro Brothers can be found in important public and private collections around the world. The brothers have visited the US to meet their collectors and to demonstrate their methods at the Pilchuck Glass School and the Corning Museum of Glass. They will be coming to Florida next year and we look forward to welcoming them back to WMODA.
Read more about Murano glass art at WMODA
The Italian Connection
The Magic of Murano
Lampworking from the Venetian Lagoon
