Seguso

Seguso
Industry Glassmaking
Headquarters Campiello San Maffio 1, Murano Venice, Italy
Key people
  • Gianluca Seguso (CEO, Seguso)
  • Pierpaolo Seguso (Creative Director, Seguso)
  • Gianandrea Seguso (Sales and Business Development, Seguso)
  • Giampaolo Seguso (Patriarch, Artist and Poet)
Products
  • Lighting
  • Furniture
  • Objects
  • Glassware
  • Custom
Brands
  • Seguso Vetri d'Arte
  • Seguso Interiors
  • Seguso Viro
Website www.seguso.com

The Seguso family has been dedicated to the art of Murano glass in Venice since May 3, 1397. Seguso is one of the most esteemed, historical and respected glass manufacturers on the island,[1] and among the largest glass furnaces in Murano, which has a few, homonymous furnaces.[2] Glass made by the Seguso furnace can be found in over 75 museums worldwide, such as MOMA in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.[3] Today, Seguso is known for its high end Venetian glass objects, lighting, accessories and custom installations. Seguso glass has been made for the Pope, Royalty and numerous luxury interiors throughout the world.[4]

Family Tradition

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]

Family Lineage

The coat of arms of the Seguso family, painted on the ceiling of the Murano Glass Museum.
14th Century Antonio Filius Seguxi (1397)
15th Century Francesco (di Antonio) (1465)

Vincenzo

16th Century Giovanni - Zuanne (1533/1613)

Vincenzo (1564)
Giacomo (1602)

17th Century Benedetto (1626)

Andrea (1665)
Benedetto (1694)

18th Century Giovanni - Zuanne (1722)

Benedetto Rosega (1746)
Giovanni (1770/1858)

19th Century Luigi (1804)

Antonio (1829)
Giovanni - Nane Patare (1853/1931)
Antonio - Toni Patare (1888/1965) Founder of Seguso Vetri d’Arte

20th Century (Sons of Antonio-b.1888) Ernesto (1904/1986)

Archimede - Moro Patare (1909-1999)
Bruno (1915-2001)
Isidoro (1918/1981)
Angelo (1921/2005)

Current Giampaolo Seguso (1942)

Gianluca (1971) – CEO of Seguso
Pierpaolo (1974) – Creative Director of Seguso
GianAndrea (1976) – Sales and Business Development
MariaGiulia (1981)

[14]

The Brands and Collections of Seguso

Seguso Vetri d’Arte

Seguso Vetri d’Arte founded in 1933, quickly became one of the most important glass furnaces in Murano and the center of creative energy and technical innovation on the island during the mid twentieth century.[15] After the Seguso Vetri d’Arte brand was sold by the Seguso family in 1974, current Seguso CEO, Gianluca Seguso was able to bring the brand, along with its rich trove of archives back into the hands of the Seguso family in 2007.[16] Today Seguso still manufacturers and sells the iconical and timeless designs of Seguso Vetri d’Arte, under its historical name.

Seguso Interiors

Seguso Interiors is an innovative collection of lighting, furniture, and architectural elements created by Pierpaolo Seguso. The division is dedicated to the decoration and lighting of interiors projects, in a continuous challenge to go beyond the boundaries of production capabilities. Architects and Interior Designers find in Seguso Interiors a reality in which each project is conceived as a tailored suit.[17] Its unique furniture design is the result of a patent received by Seguso Creative Director, Pierpaolo Seguso.[18]

Seguso Viro

Seguso Viro is known for its line of contemporary glassware.[19] Started in 1993 with the idea of Giampaolo Seguso for putting the individual at the center (from the Latin vir or mankind) and doing so with the intention of a production based on profound technical research rooted in tradition.[20] Today, glass from the Seguso Viro collections, 101 Limited and Collezioni, is sold by Seguso.[21]

Seguso Experience

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]

References

  1. ↑ Ferren, Andrew. (October 17, 2014). “Murano Still Sparkling After 700 Years.”, The New York Times
  2. ↑ “Murano Glass.”, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 May 2015. Web. 10 June 2015.
  3. ↑ “Seguso Vetri d’Arte 1932-1973” Venezia.net, retrieved June 10, 2015
  4. ↑ Athineos, Doris. (February 2011). “Venetian Magic.” Traditional Home, p. 60.
  5. ↑ “Venice Reclaimed”, by Rocky Casale, T Magazine blog New York Times, May 11, 2011, retrieved June 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ Zanetti, Vicenzo (2001) [1883]. Il Libro d’Oro di Murano. Venice: Fontana. p. 73.
  7. ↑ Buckley, Jonathan (2013) The Rough Guide to Venice and the Veneto. London: Rough Guides. p. 178. ISBN 1409366464
  8. ↑ Mentasti, Rosa Barovier (2001) La Ragnatela. Venice: Nos EditoreSpecial Edition, p. 47. ASIN B000K3I46Y.
  9. ↑ Heiremans, Marc (2014) Seguso Vetri d’Arte Glass Objects from Murano (1932-1973). Stuttgart: Arnoldsche. P. 381 ISBN 9783897901629
  10. ↑ Mentasti, Rosa Barovier (2001) La Ragnatela. Venice: Nos EditoreSpecial Editon. p. 47. ASIN B000K3I46Y.
  11. ↑ Mentasti, Rosa Barovier (2001) La Ragnatela. Venice: Nos EditoreSpecial Editon. p. 53. ASIN B000K3I46Y.
  12. ↑ Heiremans, Marc (2014) Seguso Vetri d’Arte Glass Objects from Murano (1932-1973). Stuttgart: Arnoldsche. P. 12 ISBN 9783897901629
  13. ↑ Heiremans, Marc (2014) Seguso Vetri d’Arte Glass Objects from Murano (1932-1973). Stuttgart: Arnoldsche. P. 393 ISBN 9783897901629
  14. ↑ Zecchin, Luigi (1990) Vetro e Vetrai di Murano volume III. Venice: Arsenale Editrice. P. 95 ISBN 8877430877
  15. ↑ Signoretti, Laura. (May 2013). “Siderale e Sommerso l’Arte di Seguso.” Antiquariato, p. 100.
  16. ↑ Stavis, Amy (August/September 2008). “Family Reunion.” Tableware Today, p. 100-104.
  17. ↑ Athineos, Doris. (February 2011). “Venetian Magic.” Traditional Home, p. 62.
  18. ↑ “Seguso Interiors Launch.”, Seguso.com. April 6, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  19. ↑ Rao, Sonali. (April 2003). “The Art of Venetian Cooking.” Food & Wine, p. 124.
  20. ↑ Heiremans, Marc (2014) Seguso Vetri d’Arte Glass Objects from Murano (1932-1973). Stuttgart: Arnoldsche. P. 384 ISBN 9783897901629
  21. ↑ Mentasti, Rosa Barovier (2001) La Ragnatela. Venice: Nos EditoreSpecial Editon. p. 39. ASIN B000K3I46Y.
  22. ↑ Bozzato, Fabio. (September 12, 2012).“Forbici e soffi per creare il vetro Seguso apre la fornace di notte.”, Corriere del Veneto.
  23. ↑ “Notte in Fornace The Seguso Experience.”, Seguso.com. August 27, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  24. ↑ “Seguso Experience.”, Tripadvisor.com. Retrieved June 11, 2005.
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