Giuseppe Briati

Giuseppe Briati (1686–1772) was the leading Venetian artistic glassmaker of the eighteenth century, born on Murano. To meet competition from the new Bohemian crystal, he developed a glass type called uso cristallo and invented fresh decorative techniques.

In 1739 he opened his own furnace in Venice, producing mirrors, tableware, wall lamps and elaborate chandeliers, including pagoda or Chinese-style pieces whose arms were adorned with multicoloured glass flowers. He died in Venice on 18 January 1772.