In 1574, when King Henry III of France visited Venice, a series of glassmaking demonstrations was staged on a floating barge located in front of Ca’ Foscari on the Grand Canal, where the King was staying. Inspired by this historical precedent, during the fourth edition of The Venice Glass Week a programme of outdoor glassmaking demonstrations was organised on another floating barge, using a mobile furnace supplied by Consorzio Promovetro Murano, in collaboration with a number of glass masters.

Over the course of the festival The Floating Furnace visited some of the most iconic sites in Venice, including the Accademia Bridge, the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Campo San Vio and Campo dell’Erberia, Rialto, before returning to the very heart of glassmaking, Murano, in the vicinity of Campo San Donato and the Murano Glass Museum.  

The project was promoted by Consorzio Promovetro Murano and sponsored by Compagnia Energetica Italiana

To watch The Floating Furnace promotional video, click here.