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I was inspired to write this piece by a friend of mine who has a beautiful one-of-a-kind hand blown glass chandelier in his foyer, similar to this one, which was featured in an article in Departures magazine:

Although the aesthetics of the contemporary Chihuly-looking piece attracted me, it also reminded me of the older Murano-style chandeliers, now antique, that once held this same “contemporary” title.  Both pieces blend well with both old-world and modern interiors.  There is a wonderful versatility to glass that is unmatched by furniture or color, which always tend to fall within a particular decade or trend.  Here we will explore the beauty and complexity of hand-blown and Murano chandeliers.

An instillation by Dale Chihuly at the Columbus Museum of Art, that would make an absolutely stunning and grand chandelier…

The Origins of Murano Glass -

Glass making can be traced back to Murano, Italy as far back as the 7th century (600’s).  The small Italian port island off the coast of Venice, Italy is still an attraction to glass artisans the world over.

The original glass makers of Murano held a high ranking status within society, similar to royalty.  Their children married into affluent families, they were allowed to carry swords by their side and they were immune to punishment of any sort.  This treatment attracted many residents of Murano, and other Venetian cities, into the glass making business.  By the 12th century more than 3,000 of Murano’s 5,000 inhabitants were involved in the glass industry.

Here is an example of the delicate and intricate work of Murano glass artisans from the early 1900’s.  As you can see lighting is not all the Murano glass artisans are know for.  Here is a pair of beautiful Murano Blackamoor figurines valued at $3,000…

Murano Chandeliers Today -

Although Murano glass is all around us, the most recognizable pieces of Murano work is their very unique chandeliers.  Easily identified by many, the Murano chandeliers range from 3 light to 35 light and come in solid colors, such as white, smoke, red, and black.  Murano glass chandeliers are also some of the most duplicated chandeliers, being mass reproduced in China and sold through retailers around the world.

Above is an example of a modern Murano chandelier.  This beautiful champagne-colored, six-arm chandelier is manufactured by the well known furniture company Baker.

A “Pretty in Pink” 1960’s pendant chandelier with hand blown glass petals.  Upon closer look one will notice the individual hanging “petals” which help to make this piece look like a rare flower.  This piece is attributed to Mazzega or Murano, Italy (c. 1960).

A more modern version of Mezzega’s piece above.  I love the two-tone, hanging shields that make up this pandant.  It is remarkably chic and urban.  The perfect location for this is in a stark, concrete-filled loft space hanging with an identical twin avove a dining table or concrete-topped kitchen island.  Can you see it??

Perhaps the most colorful Murano chandelier EVER!!

A chic, contemporary, two-tiered, clear Murano glass chandelier with cobalt drops and cobalt silk shades.

A cleverly designed hotel lobby with a neutral palate and a bold plum color statement with matching upholstery fabric and Murano glass chandeliers.

Murano Table Lamps -

Although the Murano lighting tradition began with beautiful and often ornate chandeliers, the onset of electricity brought a need for table top lighting.  A growing trend not overlooked by Murano glass artisans, beautiful Murano glass table lamps were created.

Here is an example of a very rare vintage (1950’s), Art Deco, Barovier Venetian lantern form pair of lamps, which are valued at $8,400 for the pair.

In stark contrast, here is a newer, “Modern” if you will, Murano glass leaf table lamp with gold accents available through the retail supply chain Global Views.

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“This was a decision based solely on contract violations including Ms. Prejean’s unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization,” Miss California USA Executive Director Keith Lewis said in a statement. “After our press conference in New York we had hoped we would be able to forge a better working relationship. However, since that time it has become abundantly clear that Carrie is unwilling to fulfill her obligations under our contract and work together.”

“I told Carrie she needed to get back to work and honor her contract with the Miss California USA Organization and I gave her the opportunity to do so,” Trump said about the decision. “Unfortunately it just doesn’t look like it is going to happen and I offered Keith my full support in making this decision. Carrie is a beautiful young woman and I wish her well as she pursues her other interests.”

The organization also announced that effective immediately, first runner-up, Tami Farrell will assume the role of Miss California USA.

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Martha Stewart’s chow puppy was one of 17 dogs killed in an accidental propane explosion at an eastern Pennsylvania kennel.

The domestic maven wrote on her blog that she was “deeply saddened” by the death of her dog, Ghengis Khan, in Friday’s blast at Pazzazz Pet Boarding, a kennel in the Pocono Mountains that breeds and trains show dogs.

Fifteen dogs were killed in the explosion, and two more died over the weekend.

The kennel in Lehighton was getting a propane delivery when the tank ignited, setting the pens on fire and injuring the driver, Timothy Kleinhagen, of Summit Hill.

Though badly burned, Kleinhagen managed to toss a cairn terrier over the kennel fence to safety. He was listed in critical condition Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

“That man is a hero,” said the kennel’s co-owner, Karen Tracy. “My heart goes out to his family.”

Genghis Khan was a grandson of Stewart’s previous chow, Paw Paw, which died last April at age 12. He was a familiar face on her television show and in her magazine.

Stewart announced on her blog in December that she was adopting Genghis Khan, then 7 weeks old, calling him “very cute and square.” She said she expected him to be “conquering his new territory in my home soon, with great charm and prowess. I’m also confident that Sharkey and Francesca (Stewart’s French bulldogs) will be enamored with him.”

It wasn’t immediately clear how much time Genghis Khan had spent at Stewart’s Westchester County, N.Y., estate.

Stewart also sent condolences to Tracy, who breeds and trains dogs that compete in shows throughout the country, including Westminster. Many of the dead dogs belonged to Tracy and her mother, Jean Ahner, who live on the property in Franklin Township, Carbon County, about 75 miles north of Philadelphia.

“My heart goes out to Karen Tracy and I am hoping for a speedy recovery for those (both pets and humans) injured in this terrible event,” Stewart wrote.

Officials have said a spark or static electricity may have started the blaze, which remains under investigation but is considered accidental.

AmeriGas Propane Inc., which owned the truck that Kleinhagen was driving, has declined to comment.

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We just received an email newsletter from IDPC (Interior Design Protection Council) that is worth reading regarding the enforecment of Florida’s “medieval” interior design statute as the State of Florida continues to use an outside law firm to terrorize unsuspecting “Interior Designers” in Florida.

Read what happened to this Allied ASID member from Florida! This could happen to YOU!
January 2009

Adelene Keeler SmithWest Palm Beach, FL
Dear Allied Members of ASID:
I write to validate that the Interior Design Protection Council, Liberty for Pennsylvania Designers and Institute of Justice are telling you the truth.

I am not an activist, but your design colleague. I?d like to share more insight on the negative impact licensing of interior designers has had on me personally.

Please link onto my website at www.adelenekeelersmith.com. Allow me to walk you through my current website, which has clearly been diluted of the original strength and message it had when launched in February 2008. My research continues to point to the likelihood that a fellow ASID member reported my website to the state. In my efforts to clarify and confront this issue with ASID, I was met with flippancy, arrogance, and told “…but you were in violation! and why are you featuring past commercial projects on your web site!…don?t you have something new to show! Don?t take it so personally, just tell the investigator you are sorry and you won?t do it again!” Totally stunned, I replied that my corporate work stands the test of time and I feel I have done nothing inappropriate. When I called the IDAF director they suggested it might have been disgruntled client who filed thecompliant. “I don?t maintain a clientele in Florida to report me”, I replied. My letters to the ASID and IDAF leadership have never been acknowledged. The complaint remains anonymous, but this action resulted in the investigation of my practice last year.

Here were the changes required to comply with and obey Florida law:
The Home Page: remove the term Interior Design or any other word combination containing them. I replaced it with Refined Elegance. I am now asked, so what is it that you do actually?
The Portfolio Page: every project you note here (even those obviously not in Florida) were under suspicion and scrutinized. I had to provide dates, names and project locations for each project. Can you imagine explaining that the tropical looking home was my personalresidence and not that of a paid client. All other Florida projects with timeless appeal, were completed before legislation or under current restrictions. In order to clear up any future assumptions or misunderstandings by the ASID or IDAF, I was required to by-line all commercial projects as not available in Florida.

The Profile Page: I had to remove any mention of the stellar interior design and architecture firms with which I had interned with, been employed by, or was mentored by in South Florida during or after receiving my five year BS degree in interior design. I suspect this was another way to discredit my obvious competency in commercial design even without the NCIDQ exam or professional level membership with ASID and IIDA.

The Process Page: I had to remove and re-write various verbiage. I had to explain in detail that the sample project boards on the website were not Florida projects, but were used as instructional materials only for the Commercial and Residential Design Labs I taught at alocal Florida college or were prepared for out of state clients. I am free to educate Florida?s students in Interior Design, but I am prohibited from practicing it.
Lastly, on my contact page, I voluntarily took off any indication or relationship to Florida,including area code and residential studio. (We returned to Florida for my husband?s careeras civil/structural bridge engineer) A good move back for him and Florida?s bridge needs…not so good for me. He needs the license, not me.
None of these changes required by the State of Florida where remotely required to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. I believe it to be a witch hunt for the ASID agenda, cloaked under Florida state law that relishes any means of generating revenue in a state with no income tax.

In conclusion, I have been banned from practicing any commercial design, including condo lobbies, retail stores or corporate spaces for which I have received numerous ASID (first place) Awards for Excellence.

I am accused of soliciting and offering Interior Design services via my website to the state of Florida without a license. I am prohibited from establishing any interior design practice here (including residential, because I do not just decorate) without taking the NCIDQ exam necessary for application of a Florida license. (Note that in Florida tasks as basic as specification of furniture and creating a plan for arranging furniture are restricted to licensed interior designers. Unlicensed individuals wishing to perform residential decorating are limited to specifying fabrics, paint, flush mount lighting and window treatments.)

We received a wave of crank calls from so-called “prospective clients” to test our adherence to this warning. We politely declined their projects and referred them to a licensed Florida interior designer.

You be the judge of our website contents and my credentials. I believe I have conducted myself as a consummate professional in this industry for 35 years. And, because I will not cow-tow to another?s definition or policy endorsed by the government, I am excluded and denied the ability to contribute to my family finances.

I am perplexed and troubled that ASID would allow this type of activity. Where was the civil and professional “courtesy call” that I deserved if a fellow ASID member had concerns about my new posted website. Silly me, I thought our new ASID chapter and membership would be welcoming, happy and excited for our new venture.

I am on a forced sabbatical.

In the next news letter, I would like to share with you my fall 2008 letter written to the new ASID incoming national President, my chapter administrator and two chapter presidents expressing matters at hand. Stay tuned!

Until then, the Happiest of New Year?s to you and yours!

Yours Sincerely,

Adelene Keeler Smith

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