Souffleur, what is 'Façon de Venise'?

Ko Goubert, acting head of collections: ‘‘Façon de Venise’ is glassware made ‘the Venetian way’. In other words, according to the traditions of the world-renowned Venetian glass artists, but produced elsewhere in Europe. It was popular in the Netherlands and the German Empire in the 17th century.’

‘The secrets of Venetian glassmaking were for centuries strictly kept secret. Skilled glass workers were even forbidden to leave the city-state. Luxurious glassware was a powerful export product that Venice virtually had a monopoly on.’

‘But in the late 16th century, that monopoly began to crack as other European monarchs managed to attract specialised glassmakers. Soon ‘façon de Venise’ glassware was being made in cities like Liège, Antwerp and Amsterdam.’