Venetian techniques

We had an impressive afternoon’s demonstration on pulling canes, making twisted canes, rods for millefiore and murrine by two stalwart French girls. At one point, one gathered up a line of clear and white rods, fixed and twisted them on the marver, and then blew a beautiful tumbler. I asked if I could buy it but it broke as she cracked it off – the punty was apparently too hot. Someone said, ‘make one yourself’, but honestly I don’t think I will ever be able to do that. Two days later we watched again as they made a large plate and a large vase using the canes and tiles. Very impressive, but I felt they overworked the pieces and that they would have been more pleasing had they halted earlier in the process.