Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter M
Welcome back to Muranology we proceed with the letter M, like Molatura (“grinding”), which is the last, but not least, technique we usually find inside a glass-factory toward the end of the production chain.
Why the molatura (“grinding”) is a last but not least step?
Because “molare” (“grinding”) is a crucial part of the finishing process of a glass item. Every single piece of glass, after it has been cooled, is more or less, characterized by some imperfections, which must be removed, in order to make the item saleable: e.g. the rim of a goblet or a jar – as it is the result of a cut – will never be perfectly smooth when the item has just come out of the cooling oven.
What is the name of the artisan working in a furnace at the “molatura”?
He/she is the “maestro molatore”.
Could the molatore be also a blowing-glass master?
No, normally the “molatore” is a master specialized in the so-called “lavorazioni a freddo” (cold working techniques). The glass-blowing master is to the fire, as the molatore is to the water. They are part of two different phases of the same production chain.
What does the molatore exactly make to the unfinished glass-item?
The molatore, basically, grinds the glass, by following many different steps. First, he uses a coarse grain, silicon-carbide wheel and, then, switches to another one with thinner grains; a third sandstone wheel is finally used to remove the rough spots, before a cork wheel impregnated of water and pumice powder will finally polish the surface. The last phase consists in cleaning with a cloth wheel, a lot of water and cerium oxide.
Is the molatura a technique limited to the finishing process?
No, this cold-working technique has much more to express, though it is an obligatory step for the finishing, if we want to make any glass item saleable.
Is the molatore a technician or he/she can be also an artist or an artist?
There are specific techniques like the “battitura” (“vetro battuto”) and the “incisione” (engraved glass), which really turns the molatura into a cold-working artistic technique. Keep following us and you will see!
Is it possible to visit the factory department where the molatori are working?
Yes, of course, the VLG team loves when its guests have a full-experience inside a furnace. Stay tuned!
Lorenzo Guglielmi
Read other articles about Muranology:
Chapter 15 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter Q
Chapter 14 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter P
Chapter 13 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter O
Chapter 12 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter M
Chapter 11 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter N
Chapter 10 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter L
Chapter 9 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter H and I
Chapter 8 – Muranology: interview to Eros Raffael
Chapter 7 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter G
Chapter 6 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter E and F
Chapter 5 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter C and D
Chapter 4 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter C
Chapter 3 – Muranology – the first on-line glossary about Murano: letter B
Chapter 2 – Muranology – the first on-line glossary about Murano: letter A
Chapter 1 – The Ultimate Glossary about Murano: letter M
Chapter 0 – What’s the tradition and the innovation in Murano?
Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter M
Welcome back to Muranology we proceed with the letter M, like Molatura (“grinding”), which is the last, but not least, technique we usually find inside a glass-factory toward the end of the production chain.
Why the molatura (“grinding”) is a last but not least step?
Because “molare” (“grinding”) is a crucial part of the finishing process of a glass item. Every single piece of glass, after it has been cooled, is more or less, characterized by some imperfections, which must be removed, in order to make the item saleable: e.g. the rim of a goblet or a jar – as it is the result of a cut – will never be perfectly smooth when the item has just come out of the cooling oven.
What is the name of the artisan working in a furnace at the “molatura”?
He/she is the “maestro molatore”.
Could the molatore be also a blowing-glass master?
No, normally the “molatore” is a master specialized in the so-called “lavorazioni a freddo” (cold working techniques). The glass-blowing master is to the fire, as the molatore is to the water. They are part of two different phases of the same production chain.
What does the molatore exactly make to the unfinished glass-item?
The molatore, basically, grinds the glass, by following many different steps. First, he uses a coarse grain, silicon-carbide wheel and, then, switches to another one with thinner grains; a third sandstone wheel is finally used to remove the rough spots, before a cork wheel impregnated of water and pumice powder will finally polish the surface. The last phase consists in cleaning with a cloth wheel, a lot of water and cerium oxide.
Is the molatura a technique limited to the finishing process?
No, this cold-working technique has much more to express, though it is an obligatory step for the finishing, if we want to make any glass item saleable.
Is the molatore a technician or he/she can be also an artist or an artist?
There are specific techniques like the “battitura” (“vetro battuto”) and the “incisione” (engraved glass), which really turns the molatura into a cold-working artistic technique. Keep following us and you will see!
Is it possible to visit the factory department where the molatori are working?
Yes, of course, the VLG team loves when its guests have a full-experience inside a furnace. Stay tuned!
Lorenzo Guglielmi
Read other articles about Muranology:
Chapter 15 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter Q
Chapter 14 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter P
Chapter 13 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter O
Chapter 12 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter M
Chapter 11 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter N
Chapter 10 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter L
Chapter 9 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter H and I
Chapter 8 – Muranology: interview to Eros Raffael
Chapter 7 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter G
Chapter 6 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter E and F
Chapter 5 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter C and D
Chapter 4 – Muranology, the first on line glossary about Murano Glass from A to Z: Letter C
Chapter 3 – Muranology – the first on-line glossary about Murano: letter B
Chapter 2 – Muranology – the first on-line glossary about Murano: letter A
Chapter 1 – The Ultimate Glossary about Murano: letter M
Chapter 0 – What’s the tradition and the innovation in Murano?