The World Of Glass: Sourcing With Curiosity, Care, And Fire
Discovering Lampblown Borosilicate Glass: From Veneto Hills to CIP Tableware
I didn’t arrive expecting surprise.
When people think of Italian glass makers, Murano often comes to mind: canals, furnaces, centuries of history. Powerful, but not the whole story. To see another side of Italian artistic glass, I drove through the gentle, cultivated hills of Veneto — fields, small villages, and low farm buildings. Practical, lived-in, unhurried; to end up in what actually is an old dairy farm.
Low structures. Weathered walls. Nothing to suggest glassmaking. And yet, this is exactly where workshops such as those of Massimo Lunardon — craft lampblown borosilicate glass.
Italian glass makers, beyond expectations
This is not your typical glass factory in Italy. No large industrial furnaces. No mass-production lines. Lampblown borosilicate glass operates on an intimate scale.
Each piece is worked over individual torches. Borosilicate glass, prized for clarity, thermal resistance, and lightness, allows for refined forms but demands patience and precision. Here, the pace mirrors the surrounding countryside: calm, deliberate, and focused.
A workshop worth visiting
For anyone asking where to visit Italian glass blowers, workshops like these are essential. Step inside and the contrast is immediate: benches lined with tools shaped by years of use, flames flickering, glass rods waiting their turn. The atmosphere feels like a Father Christmas workshop — concentrated, warm, and full of small, precise actions that produce unexpectedly delicate results.
Designers and craftsmen side by side
What defines these workshops is collaboration. Designers work at the bench, craftsmen contribute to design decisions. Curves are softened, proportions tested, balances adjusted. The result is pieces that are not only technically accomplished but also aesthetically resolved.
Artistic glass tableware and the CIP collection
Lampblown borosilicate glass is both robust and visually light. In tableware, that duality is powerful. Pieces appear delicate yet withstand daily use. That lightness is intentional, not decorative.
In our CIP collection, this approach is central. Thin walls, clean lines, and carefully balanced proportions create tableware that allows food, light, and human interaction to shine. The glass participates in the experience rather than dominating it — a quiet reflection of biophilic principles in functional design.
Why sourcing from these workshops matters
From a sourcing perspective, these workshops offer something rare: traceability, embodied skill, and direct collaboration between designers and makers. For brands and specifiers seeking Italian glass makers who combine artistic integrity with practical performance, this is invaluable.
Visiting Italian glass blowers
You won’t find crowds or polished visitor centres. You will find knowledge, precision, and craft handed down and refined in real time inside buildings that still belong to the rural rhythm of Veneto. The contrast between the simple exterior and the sophistication inside is part of the magic.
FAQ:
What is lampblown borosilicate glass?
Lampblown borosilicate glass is glass worked over a torch, known for its thermal resistance, clarity, and lightweight properties. Think test tubes in chemistry class taken to another level.
Where can I visit Italian glass blowers?
Workshops are often small and found throughout italy from lake Como to Veneto, usualluin small villages. They offer intimate experiences beyond the traditional Murano route.
What makes the CIP collection unique?
The CIP collection features lampblown borosilicate tableware designed for everyday use. Each piece is visually light, precise in form, and allows food and light to be the focus.