How did you become one of the most appreciated glass masters in Murano?
Fate decided for me. I used to work with wood, which is a completely different craft. Then one day I found myself without a job, due to disagreements with my boss. My brother-in-law, who was the owner of the Fornace Anfora, asked me to lend a hand – not in the glassworks, but packing the finished products.
When did you develop a passion for working with glass?
In the late afternoons, when the glassworkers used to go home, I would make my own little experiments to shape and mould the material with which I worked every day. Then one day there was a vacant job in the 'piazza', and my brother-in-law asked me if I was seriously interested.
© Laura Panno
What is the 'piazza' in glassworking jargon?
In a glass workshop, it designates the trio of a master, his assistant and the serventino who assists both. It represents the traditional progression of a glassblower’s career, a path followed to this day. When you step into our glass workshop, it’s like going back centuries in time.
What is the most interesting aspect of working with other creators?
To discover each other and spend time together. When I start a new project with someone I don’t know, I always invite them to spend some days together here at the furnace. It’s the only way to create a synergy that can lead to excellent results, to build the symbiosis that is the basis of my work.