Seguso

A silver "Osella" coin featuring the coat of arms of the Seguso Family, Murano 1792.

The Seguso family today is able to trace its uninterrupted lineage of glassmakers back over six centuries[5] to 1397, based on documents in the archives of Venice. In 1605, the family was added to the Libro d’Oro of Murano, or Golden Book of Murano,[6] which included the most important glassmaking families and offered them privileges of nobility.[7] The Seguso glassmakers were especially successful between the mid 16th and 17th centuries when they created an extensive commercial network for their products that reached as far as the newly discovered Americas.[8] During this successful period the Seguso family crest was imprinted on the osella coin of Venice by the Doge in 1792.[9]

However, it was not until the 19th century that they produced their best work and became one of the leading glassmakers on the island of Murano, as well as internationally. Antonio Seguso (b.1829) singularly revived forgotten, sophisticated techniques to play a crucial role in the glass renaissance of the mid-19th century, when Murano glassmaking was recovering from its most difficult period of crisis after the fall of the Venetian Republic.[10]

His son, Giovanni (b. 1853) was an eccentric and equally talented glassmaker, who for a time worked with Paolo Venini. Venini often used to tell visitors, “Nane Patare (nickname of Giovanni Seguso) taught me everything about glass.”[11]

Antonio Seguso (b. 1888), the son of Giovanni, was also a talented glassmaker and along with Napoleone Barovier and Luigi Ferro, founded Artistica Vetreria e Soffieria Barovier, Seguso and Ferro in 1933, this company would eventually become Seguso Vetri d’Arte, employing all five sons of Antonio Seguso in various roles, including Archimede Seguso for a period of time, the father of Giampaolo Seguso, and grandfather to the current generation guiding the Seguso company today, Gianluca, Pierpaolo and Gianandrea Seguso.[12] The brand, trademark, designs and archives of Seguso Vetri d’Arte are today in the hands of the family and sold throughout the world.[13]

The coat of arms of the Seguso family, painted on the ceiling of the Murano Glass Museum.

[14]

Is this an encyclopedia or Italian-style self-loving business advertising? Please edit this text, someone outside of the company. In 2012 Seguso became one of the first furnaces to open their doors to visitors through a unique program called the Seguso Experience.[22] With the intent to emotionally move the audience, all visitors travel through time; a journey made of real authentic flavors, colors and atmosphere handed down from each Seguso generation to generation. Gianluca and Pierpaolo Seguso's inspiration for this type of visit comes from their desire to raise the bar and deliver a fresh and unique Experience to visitors and show the true soul of Murano, as an alternative way to really feel the Murano glass art and passion, different from the more commercial and touristic influences that exist throughout the island.[23] The Seguso Experience has consistently been rated as one of the top things to do on the island of Murano.[24]