prow, poope, forecastle, anchors, with thee long-boat, all made
out in cristall Glasse, as allso a man in armor."
Thus, we see that a whole street
of Glass-houses was then in existence, and in full reputation and
employment. Much mystery was, however, current, either suggested by
policy, narrow-minded selfishness, or superstition, as to the cause of
the excellence of the Venetian Glass, which by Howel was ridiculously
attributed to "Venice air." Its white Glass may, then, have been
appreciated; but it is far inferior in pellucid refractibility to modern
English crystal Glass. The finest pieces of ancient Venetian Glass-ware
are rather celebrated for lightness than crystalline beauty; its is
excellent, considering that lead forms no part of its composition.
Venice Glass was, however, in high
repute in England in Howel's time; for, in another of his Letters,
dated "Westminster, 15 Jan., 1835," we find the author thus writing "to
Mr. T. Lucy, in Venice:" "My Lady Miller commends her kindly unto you,
and she desires you to send her a compleat cupboard of the best crystall
Glasses Murano can afford, by the next shipping." Drinking Glasses made
at Venice were also about this time believed, by credulous persons, to
have the property of breaking when a poisonous liquid was poured into
them—an absurd belief referable to exaggeration of the celebrity
of the manufacture. This alleged detective property is thus referred
to by Sir Thomas Browne, in his work on Vulgar Errors: "Though
it be said that poison will break a Venice glass, yet have we not met
any of that nature."
The Venetians, also, originated the modern
style of Glass-engraving which afterwards extended through all the
Glass-making countries of Europe. The first specimen was scratched
|