Description
This decoration is called 'fenicio' (Phoenician) in Murano, and was adopted between the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century. It was used before this time in various periods: back in the 2nd millennium AC on friable core glass; in the Roman period on blown glass; on Longobard glass; on Islamic glass.
The glassworker wraps the incandescent glass filaments around the wall of the vase using a short and thin pontil, or 'speo'.
Then, placing the object near the furnace of the mouth to keep it hot, he combs the threads with a hooked tool, called a 'maneretta' in Murano.
The festoons can be kept in relief or incorporated into the wall by marvering the object.
