::Garden Of Earthly Delights::

::
At Garden of Earthly Delights, you will find an eclectic mix of
handcrafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Owners, Lynda Henry and Janet Clark search out the extraordinary when designing and creating each item.
::
They hand pick precious and semi-precious gemstones, beads, sterling silver, pearls,
antique glass, crystal quartz, turquoise, jade, emerald and a myriad of
other components to bring you fashionably chic and timeless jewelry.
::
Their affordable pieces range from big and bold to small and feminine,
so you will always be able to find something to compliment your own personal style!
Each piece is designed, handmade and one of a kind, ensuring the
unique heart and soul of the piece will carry on to its owner.
::

History of Murano Glassmaking

Murano’s reputation as a center for glassmaking was born when the Venetian Republic, fearing fire and destruction to the city’s mostly wood buildings, ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano in 1291. Murano glass is still interwoven with Venetian glass. Murano's glassmakers were soon the island’s most prominent citizens. By the 14th century, glass makers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed immunity from prosecution by the Venetian state and found their daughters married into Venice’s most affluent families. Of course there was a catch: Glassmakers weren't allowed to leave the Republic. However, many craftsmen took this risk and set up glass furnaces in surrounding cities and as far afield as England and the Netherlands.

Murano’s glassmakers held a monopoly on quality glassmaking for centuries, developing or refining many technologies including crystalline glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicolored glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano are still employing these century-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass jewelry.

The Art of Glassmaking

The process of making Murano glass is rather complex. Most Murano glass art is made using the lampworking technique. The glass is made from silica which becomes liquid at high temperatures. As the glass passes from a liquid to a solid state, there is an interval when the glass is soft before it hardens completely. This is when the glass-master can shape the material.

Materials

The other raw materials, called flux or melting agents, soften at lower temperatures. The more sodium oxide present in the glass, the slower it solidifies. This is important for hand-working because it allows the glassmaker more time to shape the material. The various raw materials that an artisan might add to a glass mixture are sodium (to make the glass surface opaque), nitrate and arsenic (to eliminate bubbles) and coloring or opacifying substances.

Colors, techniques and materials
2007

Colors, techniques and materials vary depending upon the look a glassmaker is trying to achieve. Aquamarine is created through the use of copper and cobalt compounds whereas ruby red uses a gold solution as a coloring agent.

Tools



:: At Garden of Earthly Delights, you will find an eclectic mix of handcrafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Owners, Lynda Henry and Janet Clark search out the extraordinary when designing and creating each item. :: They hand pick precious and semi-precious gemstones, beads, sterling silver, pearls, antique glass, crystal quartz, turquoise, jade, emerald and a myriad of other components to bring you fashionably chic and timeless jewelry. :: Their affordable pieces range from big and bold to small and feminine, so you will always be able to find something to compliment your own personal style! Each piece is designed, handmade and one of a kind, ensuring the unique heart and soul of the piece will carry on to its owner. ::
Murano Glass Collection for Fall 2007

My Murano glass collection was personally hand-selected in the Spring of 2007 keeping in mind the colors and styles for the upcoming Fall and Holiday seasons. I chose 24-carat gold and sterling silver infused glass beads in emerald, sapphire, burnt sienna, gold, and bronze. These exquisite beads are paired with vintage Czechoslovakian glass, Swarovoski crystals and handmade Thai silver in numerous varieties, designs and lengths to suit your individual taste. Each necklace is a one of a kind only art piece designed with you in mind! They can be worn individually or in beautiful layers to create a dazzling effect. Please read more on the history of Murano glassmaking below.







: Lynda Henry : 254 Cameron Street, Manchester NH 03103 : 603-623-4370 :

History of Murano Glassmaking Murano’s reputation as a center for glassmaking was born when the Venetian Republic, fearing fire and destruction to the city’s mostly wood buildings, ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano in 1291. Murano glass is still interwoven with Venetian glass. Murano's glassmakers were soon the island’s most prominent citizens. By the 14th century, glass makers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed immunity from prosecution by the Venetian state and found their daughters married into Venice’s most affluent families. Of course there was a catch: Glassmakers weren't allowed to leave the Republic. However, many craftsmen took this risk and set up glass furnaces in surrounding cities and as far afield as England and the Netherlands. Murano’s glassmakers held a monopoly on quality glassmaking for centuries, developing or refining many technologies including crystalline glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicolored glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano are still employing these century-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass jewelry. The Art of Glassmaking The process of making Murano glass is rather complex. Most Murano glass art is made using the lampworking technique. The glass is made from silica which becomes liquid at high temperatures. As the glass passes from a liquid to a solid state, there is an interval when the glass is soft before it hardens completely. This is when the glass-master can shape the material. Materials The other raw materials, called flux or melting agents, soften at lower temperatures. The more sodium oxide present in the glass, the slower it solidifies. This is important for hand-working because it allows the glassmaker more time to shape the material. The various raw materials that an artisan might add to a glass mixture are sodium (to make the glass surface opaque), nitrate and arsenic (to eliminate bubbles) and coloring or opacifying substances. Colors, techniques and materials Colors, techniques and materials vary depending upon the look a glassmaker is trying to achieve. Aquamarine is created through the use of copper and cobalt compounds whereas ruby red uses a gold solution as a coloring agent. Tools It is essential that Murano artisans use tools in the making of their glass. Some of these tools include borselle (tongs or pliers used to hand-form the red-hot glass), canna da soffio (blowing pipe), pontello (an iron rod to which the craftsman attaches the object after blowing in order to add final touches), scagno (the glass-master's work bench) and tagianti (large glass-cutting clippers).