Everything You Need to Know About Murano Glass Chandeliers
- gracejinjujin
- Dec 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 5
If you’re anything like us you’ve probably seen these fluted glass chandeliers all over your Pinterest feed. They belong to a family of chandeliers called Murano glass chandeliers. Here’s everything you need to know.
They Are Made From Handblown Glass in Northern Italy
Murano glass is a type of hand-blown glass made on the island of Murano, Italy near Venice. Venetian glassmaking began in the 13th century, when glass furnaces were moved from Venice to Murano for fire-safety reasons. Murano glass chandeliers were first introduced in the late 1600’s, during the Baroque period.
They Come in a Wide Variety of Styles
During the Venetian Baroque period, the Murano artisans developed their most iconic chandelier style: Rezzonico (also called Ca’ Rezzonico after the famous Venetian palazzo).
Rezzonico chandeliers are defined by:
Segmented glass arms built from multiple pieces
Heavy Baroque / Rococo Ornamentation
A glass-dominant structure with very little visible metal
These chandeliers were installed in ballrooms, palaces, theaters, and salons across Europe. Today you might find them in restored Venetian palazzi, heritage European homes, and luxury hotels that honor classical craftsmanship.
The tube-style Murano chandelier — made of long, vertically hung glass prisms or “tronchi” were first introduced during the 1960s–70s when Murano glass factories began releasing more modernized designs.
These are the chandeliers you’ll see in Milanese interiors and editorial apartments in Paris and are the ones that are trending on social media today. Below is a tronchi-style Murano glass chandelier in a Parisian-style room.
What Makes Murano Glass Chandeliers Special
There are three characteristics that set Murano glass chandeliers apart from other traditional chandelier types:
They are glass dominant, with very little visible metal. This gives them the appearance of being light, ethereal and floating.
Because the glass is blown not cut, they glow rather than sparkle when turned on. This further emphasizes their ethereal quality.
They come in a wide variety of colors.
These distinctions should help you decide what type of chandelier is right for your space.
What Rooms Look Good With Murano Glass Chandeliers
Not every room works with a Murano glass chandelier. After analyzing a wide range of interiors, we identified three characteristics that reliably make a Murano chandelier feel “at home” in a space: a soft, pastel color palette, sleek modern furniture, and architectural details such as crown molding.
Below, we break down each factor using a real room we found on Pinterest and demonstrate how the right Murano chandelier can really elevate the space.
Soft, Pastel Color Palettes
Rooms with softer, pastel-toned palettes pair beautifully with Murano glass chandeliers. Because many Murano pieces are made in delicate shades like pink, lilac, or pale blue, they naturally complement interiors that share that same gentle softness. When the room’s palette echoes the chandelier’s tones, the whole space feels cohesive and light.
Sleek, Modern Furniture (the contrast principle)
Modern furniture tends to be minimal, with soft curves and clean, uninterrupted lines. Murano glass chandeliers, on the other hand, are ornate and sculptural. That contrast is exactly what makes them work so well together—the simplicity of the furniture allows the chandelier to stand out, and the chandelier adds character to an otherwise streamlined space.
Molding and High Ceilings
Murano glass chandeliers look their best in rooms with strong architectural “bones”—ceiling medallions, decorative molding, tall ceilings, or even a graceful arched doorway. The sculptural, hand-blown curves of Murano glass feel most at home in spaces with classical detailing, where the architecture can balance and frame the chandelier’s presence.
Where to Buy Murano Glass Chandeliers
If you’re ready to buy a Murano chandelier, here are the places worth checking out.
Direct from Murano, Italy:
Original Murano Glass (OMG), GlassOfVenice, MuranoGlassItaly.
Good for custom colors/sizes and brand-new pieces
Vintage marketplaces:
1stDibs, Chairish, Pamono, Vinterior, and reputable Italian Etsy sellers.
Best for mid-century tronchi styles and pieces with character
Curated lighting shops:
LightsStory, Oasis Lives, SamuLighting, Vinlighting.
Easy, ready-to-ship options
Auctions (high-end):
Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Wright.
For rare or collectible Venini/Seguso pieces
Typical price range:~$800–$1,500 for small entry pieces, $1,500–$3,500 for mid-range, and $5,000+ for large or rare vintage.
About Aetura Studio
Aetura Studio is a fully remote interior design studio specializing in European-inspired, heritage-rich spaces for residential clients. Grounded in timeless design and editorial detail, Aetura creates spaces that feel layered, elegant, and deeply personal.
If you’re ready to bring a timeless, European-inspired look to your home, we’d love to help you get started.
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