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Carved in Glass

March 27, 2025

By Louise Irvine

Venice has been producing glass since the 10th century, and Murano became the main center in 1291 when glassmakers were ordered to relocate their furnaces to the small island in the Venetian lagoon to mitigate fire hazards. Over the centuries, the Murano masters have changed our perception of glass as an artistic medium. Experience the magic of Murano at WMODA on Tuesday, April 29, when Riccardo Ferro from La Moleria opens the museum’s selling exhibition of brilliant carved glass art by the fabulous Ferro Brothers.

In Italian, La Moleria is a workshop for grinding glass, the specialty of Pietro and Riccardo Ferro. Working with abrasive spinning wheels, the Ferro brothers cold work glass vessels in brilliant colors. Their dramatic cuts are sometimes five layers deep and they cradle each piece for hours, days, and often weeks, painstakingly grinding away to reveal what lies underneath. There is always the danger that the piece will shatter, so it is a painstaking process. The finished vessel is a passionate work of art in vibrant translucent colors and energetic textures.

Pietro and Riccardo were born in 1975 and 1980, respectively, and they followed in the footsteps of their father, the cold-working Maestro Paolo Ferro. Under his guidance, they worked in various Murano factories to learn traditional techniques, including different grinding effects, such as diamond scribing, stipple engraving and the bold Battuto, which resembles hammered metal.

 

In 2000, the Ferros opened La Moleria, where they created masterpieces for world-renowned artists, including Lino Tagliapietra and Pino Signoretto, who are represented at WMODA. They also collaborated with famous Murano factories, such as Venini and Seguso. Today, they are more focused on their own unique glass art designs and their work can be found in prestigious public and private collections worldwide. They have visited the US to meet their collectors and demonstrate their methods at the Pilchuck Glass School and the Corning Museum of Glass.

We are delighted that Riccardo Ferro is flying to Florida to open the selling exhibition at WMODA featuring new work by the Ferro Brothers on Tuesday, April 29 from 6 pm to 8 pm. The Carved in Glass exhibition is curated by Sergio Gnesin, an Italian glass expert and author expert well-known in the US for his successful exhibitions selling Murano glass art.  The exhibition is open to the public during the museum’s regular hours until May 19, 2025.

 

About the curator

Sergio Gnesin grew up in the Venice area and learned about glass design and techniques working in Murano. He has over 30 years of experience in collecting and selling Murano glass in Italy and the United States. In 2003, Sergio wrote and edited a private catalog for Enrico Bersellini’s glass collection and wrote a book about Ermanno Nason, who helped artists such as Picasso, Cocteau and Chagall realize their visions in glass.   Since moving to Florida in 2016, Sergio has collaborated with American galleries to curate exhibitions and cultural events that promote luxury Italian design.

All art sales benefit the educational programs at WMODA which is a 501c3 not-for-profit museum.

Read more about Sergio Gnesin’s exhibitions at WMODA

Who’s Who – Sergio Gnesin | Wiener Museum

Animalia | Wiener Museum

La Moleria | Wiener Museum

Read more about Murano glass at WMODA

The Italian Connection | Wiener Museum

The Italian Connection The Italian Connection | Wiener Museum

The Magic of Murano The Italian Connection | Wiener Museum

Lampworking from the Venetian Lagoon The Italian Connection | Wiener Museum