Murano glass beads come in a wide variety of shapes, styles and colours. They are considered to be among the most beautiful in the world, and are highly prized.

Believed to have originated in 9th century Rome, and with its Muslim and Asian influences still very much in evidence, the glass-making industry had, by the end of the 13th century, become dominated by Venetian craftsmen. In 1291, ostensibly due to the fire risk to a city built mainly of wood, the government decreed that all glass furnaces in Venice should be relocated to the island of Murano.

As well as tightening the government's control over the industry, this move promoted an unprecedented degree of competition between the artisans. This in turn led to the rapid development of new and more complex techniques, and the production of the most exquisite glassware.

Soon, Murano glass had become so highly sought after that, in order to protect this valuable source of revenue for Venice, the government declared it illegal for craftsmen to practice their skills abroad, and harsh measures were taken to stop the disclosure of trade secrets to foreigners. However, eventually, demand was so high that artisans began to defy the edict and migrate, setting up glass furnaces throughout Europe and, later, South America.