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The processing of artistic glass, handed down over the centuries by the Serenissima Republic, took hold of the island of Murano. In 1295 it was decreed that the glassworks in Venice, probably active already before the year 1000, were transferred to Murano for security reasons.
Albino Carrara born in Murano on 17/05/1913 son of Antonio Carrara and Orsola Fuga at an early age began to work glass; at the time, in fact, the children started work early and in Murano they learned the ancient art of artistic glass processing.
These are difficult years and one cannot become a master glassmaker without having first followed a long tiring internship. In fact, he began work as an apprentice in the various glassworks on the island. In 1935 he worked in Ferrara at the Ferrara Glassworks as a pareson lever (French term that indicated the task of removing the glass from the crucible).
After the Ferrarese experience, he returned to Murano in 1937 where he was requested by the V.A.M.S.A. (Vetreria Artistica Muranese Società Anonima), by the master Alfredo Barbini from which he learned new techniques on the artistic working of glass. Made up of these teachings, in the year 1945 he was requested by the Ferro & Lazzarini glassworks, thus began his activity as first master, as ordinary production, but above all as an inventiveness of objects produced and designed by Maestro Albino Carrara, objects at all today they are reproduced.
It was the fifties, Murano was in vogue, an important chapter was being written in the history of glass art, numerous artists approached Murano art, painters and sculptors such as: Pablo Picasso, Fioravante Seibezzi, Ezio Rizzetto, Aldo Bergamini, Le Corbusier, Gino Krayer, Alexander Calder, Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Lucio Fontana, Virgilio Guidi, Giò Ponti and Franco De Boni.
QThe latter under the guidance of Carlo Scarpa began the activity of glass designer with particular reference to the lighting sector. He collaborated with the Ferro-Lazzarini glassworks, where he followed for a period Albino Carrara, "a Venetian master glassmaker who had worked with Picasso and Cocteau, from whom I learned the secrets of blowing and processing of artistic glass."[1]
Paolo Carrara born in Murano on 07/04/1940 son of Albino Carrara and Mis Cipolat Antonia.
When he was young, Paolo began to love the glassy material that his father, Albino, took from the crucible inside the furnace with the barrel and with precise movements he animated giving shape and expression to that matter that seemed to fall to the ground so much was liquid.
"When I had free time in the afternoon, I went to the glass factory to watch the workmanship, sometimes I tried too; I laugh when I think of that period, I approached the oven with the barrel to remove the glass but I could not, the the heat was too unbearable, the glass did not stick to the barrel: who knows why I will try again tomorrow."
"Then slowly I was able to do something, I was born inside the desire to create what goes on in your head, joy, fear, emotions: they were my first contacts with glass, my dad aware of my passion began to make me understand that this matter should not be underestimated, saying to be very careful because when the glass is cold it cuts and when it is hot it slowly explained to me its experiences acquired over time but with a lot of passion. Finally my dream was coming true ."
Paolo entered the famous Ferro & Lazzarini glass factory as an apprentice in the chandelier department. Then with the help of an old master grinder he learned to work glass cold (with grinding wheels). The old master told him that the mill was no less important than the furnace but was the heart of it as the finishing was very important, he treasured the techniques learned from grinding but he also thought that the history of the "heart" was fifty percent true...
Paolo acquired important experiences at various glass factories, but it was at Gino Cenedese, where he learned the most important experiences, through prof. Antonio Da Ros, designer of the Cenedese glassworks, and together with the sculptor and master Ermanno Nason had the opportunity to grow his creative talents.
Paolo left the island of Murano in 1979 and moved to Marghera where Crystal Glass finally opened his own company, a laboratory for the second glass processing, there were immediately important customers such as: S.A.V. di Lughetto, The V-LINE of Scorze '. The VETRELCO of Treviso, and the VENINI of Murano.
He participated in numerous exhibitions organized by the craftsmen association of Mestre with some of his works: Vaso Incamiciato (crystal with cobalt blue glass cover) spring cut, Stern forcola (oarlock) of the Murano crystal gondola, Unicorn, lamp with mushrooms, Chandeliers of Murano, vases and objects in general.
Other exhibitions followed one another, one of the most important, was the group exhibition held in Venice on May 1996; "suddenly among the people I saw a person looking at me and smiling at me." It was the old grinder who came to see his sculptures, he congratulated himself, saying: "I knew you would have made it" and this was the most important compliment for him.
M.G.S. was born from an idea of Paolo Carrara and created by his sons Andrea and Alessandro. The objects produced are guaranteed by the name of a great master glassmaker Albino Carrara who has inherited his experiences from his son Paolo and grandchildren who will be able to provide you with their great expertise in the field.
In 2020 M.G.S. changes name and simply becomes: "Carrara - Glass Masters since 1926" year in which my grandfather began his great adventure which led him to meet great artists and wonderful people, personally for my life I do not wish for anything better. Alessandro Carrara Son of Paolo Carrara and Grandson of Albino Carrara
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