La dolce vita: Personalized Murano home art now in Manila

Even before Ferdinand Magellan “discovered” the Philippines in 1521, glass art had been thriving in Murano, an island off Venice in Italy.

Since the 8th century, Murano glass has been renowned for its intricate craftsmanship and distinct beauty. In 1291, Venetian glassmakers were relocated to Murano island to prevent fires, and up to this day, the island has harbored generations after generations of families solely dedicated to the craft.

Indeed, a trip to Venice is never complete without visiting Murano and watching a glassmaker create art right before your very eyes.

But taking home a Murano glass souvenir was a challenge for Filipinos like Imelda Menguito-Sciandra, a former chef in Italy. There is risk, she said, of the glass breaking or chipping.

Since founding luxury retail concept store Corso Como 88 in 2008, however, it has been Imelda’s vision to make Italian and European brands more accessible to Filipinos in Manila. So, after bringing in hard-to-find pieces such as Biagini bags that can be personalized and Acqua dell'Elba fragrances containing exotic Italian ingredients, Imelda has made it her mission to also bring a piece of Venice to the Philippines, especially with shipping becoming more efficient and faster, she said.

“A lot of Filipinos are very well-traveled, so they know Murano, they know their stuff… There's a lot of enthusiasm, especially now that there's easier logistics,” she affirmed.

Murano glass art, according to her, is very unique because no two pieces are alike even if they were made in the same way.

For those who want to begin appreciating the art, she recommended starting with small pieces like jewelry, then slowly progress to small figurines for condos, then bigger pieces as centerpieces or welcome pieces for larger houses and spaces.

Although Imelda’s Corso Como 88 store in One Ayala, Makati City is not the first and exclusive Murano glass dealer, she takes pride that her wares come directly from a family of artisans, so the pieces have certificates of authenticity and can be personalized with name engravings.

“You don't have to go all the way in one hour, from the mainland to Murano or ride the water taxi and then you don't even get to bring home your stuff because you don’t know how to pack it properly to prevent it from chipping or getting broken, because I experienced that before,” she confessed.

Experience, indeed, is the greatest teacher for Imelda — which is why she makes sure to bring in Murano glass art only from the masters.