The Murano Christmas tree, a photo from Venice, Veneto

Photographer's Note

World's biggest glass tree for Xmas
Celebration of centuries- old Venetian craftsmanship

Venetian artisans are preparing a special Christmas treat for the lagoon city this year - the world's biggest glass tree.

The monumental Christmas tree is being made by a group of the world famous glassblowers who work on the Venetian island of Murano.

The details of the tree's design are being kept secret until it is unveiled on the island on December 8.

But the man who designed it, master glassblower Simone Cenedese, said it will be a modern interpretation of the traditional colours and symbols of the festive season.

Cenedese said he called in a firm of architects to help with the structural details of the project.

The tree will be 7.5 metres tall, have a diameter of three metres and weigh three tonnes. Cenedese's team are currently blowing the branches and sections of the tree's trunk, which will then be bolted together.

He says the end result will be a veritable work of art, entitled "Riflessi di vetri in un albero di Natale" (Glass reflections in a Christmas tree). Venice has been famous for centuries for its glassblowers, who were forced to move to Murano in the 13th century so their foundries were not a fire hazard to the rest of the city.

The move turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the local craftsmen, as it made it harder for artisans from elsewhere to steal their secrets and techniques. During the 15th century Venetian craftsman invented the first clear glass, called 'cristallo'.

Today many of Murano's glass workshops remain family-run businesses.

They stay true to the glassblowers time-honoured techniques, but have moved with the times in terms of design, taking aboard influences from modern and contemporary art.

The island's workshops export an enormous variety of beautiful objects - including sculptures, ornaments, mirrors, vases, clocks, jewellery, lamps and lights - all over the world.

From http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2006-12-06_10616565.html

axiotea, besnard, ktanska, siolaw, Bjostad, MikiM, Angshu, pasternak, lilimih33, PixelTerror, kermit350, Silvio1953, josepmarin, Buin, grigand, robob, cimcim, maloutim, jassy, v_vicky, calm has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

axiotea (21616) 2006-12-14 1:52

Ciao Vinicio,
The artisans from Murano are very famous and personally I used to know a bit one of them.
That compo is original and beautiful with nice light exposure and colors. A great piece of Artwork.
Cheers,
Marilyn

besnard (45708) 2006-12-14 2:04

Bonjour Vinicio
Superbe cet arbre de noël tout en verre avec des nuances de couleurs bien disposées. On sent la griffe d'artistes.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

ktanska (20369) 2006-12-14 2:41

Hi Vinicio,
Great piece of art with all those bright colours. Those branches look like test tubes, but as the size of the tree is 7.5 m those tubes have to be quite big too. Thus, the only problem with this picture is that it does not give much hints of the scale.
Kari

siolaw (35731) 2006-12-14 2:42

Hi Vinicio,
Nice art piece made of Murano beads, light well managed, superb colors and bead transparency and shine, excellent sharpness... very well done
Laurent

MikiM (1924) 2006-12-14 3:36

Boun Giorno Vinicio,
This is wonderful. You managed the light perfectly!!! This tree is quite unique - congrats to the Venetian Masters too!
Very well done!
COngrats,
Miklós

Angshu (47527) 2006-12-14 3:37

Ciao Vincio
What you show us is a superb example of craftmanship through wonderful photography...Your control of light is superb & against the dark BG, the glasses with all their colours standout.
Regards
Angshu

jasmis (57538) 2006-12-14 3:57

Extraordinary theme. Interesting photo up to date. Thanks for sharing. Regards.

pasternak (15127) 2006-12-14 4:08

Very interesting, Vinicio, the "tree" looks fantastic and mysterious against the black background...

Cheers
Alexander

meb (766) 2006-12-14 4:15

Bravo Vinicio, è difficile, vedendo la foto intera, pensare a come hai potuto far venire fuori i colori e lo sfondo nero... mi sa che siete troppo bravi x me!
ciao

stefanocer (10638) 2006-12-14 5:25

Bravi tutti , il fotografo e i mastri vetrai , ben fatto .
Stefano.

lilimih33 (9912) 2006-12-14 5:43

Hello Vinicio! Interesting Christmas tree! Beautiful colours and sharpness in your composition! Well done!
Lili

PixelTerror (96880) 2006-12-14 6:21

Ciao Vinicio,
What a beautiful artwork, a fine representations of the Murano workers skills, I like the rich array of colors and it gradually emerges from the darkness, lovely !
Have a nice day,
JEan-yves

kermit350 (9010) 2006-12-14 6:52

Hello Vinicio apprezzo questo tipo di fotografia, che sembra semplice ma di cui so che non è così, trattamento superbe dei colori ed il formato che dà dell'ampiezza a questa fotografia, e saluto ai passaggi questi artigiani che sono anche maghi del buon gusto e dell'arte adattata di tecnica, colore e luce, l`effet scontato è riuscito e ben è reso dal vostro captatore, bene amicalement

jinju (14265) 2006-12-14 6:56

Hi Vincio,

this is really a striking work. I like all that black emptyness around this tree, which alows the beautiful lights and colors to really stand out. Good composition, one of those compos where a central placement doesnt work against the final result.

Silvio1953 (83393) 2006-12-14 8:53

Ciao Vinicio, ormai siamo in pieno spirito natalizio, splendido albero da Murano, bello ed originale, foto molto ben eseguita, e non era per niente facile,Bravo, ciao Silvio

vesilvio (750) 2006-12-14 9:30

Bella anche questa Vinicio, e grazie per il WS di raffronto per le dimensioni.
Veramente ben catturato, con dettagli estremamente nitidi, ed un illuminazione da 'vetrina'.
Stupendi i colori e la cornice molto essenziale che lo risalta.
Ciao,
silvio

josepmarin (50366) 2006-12-14 12:22

Ciao Vinicio,
esta composición tiene una sencillez que es lo que la hace muy bella e interesante. Este peculiar árbol de Navidad formado con piezas de cristal tiene un colorido espectacular, que la iluminación se encarga de aumentar para dar un resultado con mucho grafismo. Me gusta, además, tu encuadre es magnífico.
Saludos,
Josep

grigand (17797) 2006-12-14 13:12

Ciao Vinicio,
L'albero è effettivamente eccezionale, ma la foto che lo rappresenta lo è altrettanto. Mi piace molto lo luce e i colori, complimenti non credo si potesse far meglio.
Ciao
Andrea

Buin (41932) 2006-12-14 14:49

Hallo Vinicio!
Your picture simply is stunning! It is beautiful and very interesting and light and colours are not to surpass. This tree has somethin mysterious...
Thank you for showing this!
Greetings from cold and wet Germany!
Frank

Scharan (14144) 2006-12-14 17:45

Sensacional Vinicio!
Foto criativa, lindas cores e que transmite uma leveza de imagem e muito bom gosto.
Meus parabéns e grande abraço,
Vera.

robob (3646) 2006-12-16 11:05

Hello Vinicio,
Magnifique image de cette œuvre d’art sur fond noir. Splendides couleurs et note très intéressante.
Merci et à bientôt,
Robert

izmirli (3864) 2006-12-16 19:48

ciao dear vinicio
merry christmas for all and happy newyear.
very good lights.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

uccia84 (720) 2006-12-16 19:55

un albero davvero insolito..bella foto complimenti.

maloutim (7136) 2007-01-05 17:41

Un'albero di Natale molto originale e stupendo. Non ho mai veduto uno come questo.
Tua fotografìa è perfecta ed i detagli sono molto clari, cio che no è tan facile quando se stacca una foto de luce.
Anche tua nota è molto interessante, e che va divenir l'albero dopo le celebrazioni?
Ciao.
Marie Louise.

v_vicky (1025) 2008-03-25 14:12

A piece of art!! Excellent theme.

TFS
Vicky