Giovanni & Vincenzo Barbini

A myriad of mirrors

• The mirrors made by the Barbini family can be found all over the world
• They collaborate with architects, designers and artists on special projects
• The company benefits from the official “Made in Murano” certification mark

AAV Barbini is the oldest operating company in Murano specialised in the art of glass engraving and the production of Venetian mirrors, as well as the restoration of antique pieces. The company’s origins can be traced back to an era that far precedes the date of its foundation by Nicolò Barbini, in 1927. In fact, the Barbini family history is intimately tied to that of Venetian glass mirror making, which has lived centuries of undisputed supremacy not only for its limpid, transparent and colourless qualities, but also for the sophisticated craftsmanship that has characterised production throughout the ages. To this day, all of the development phases take place exclusively in the Barbini workshop and are personally overseen by Nicolò’s heirs, Vincenzo and Giovanni, and by their respective sons, who constantly reinterpret this inestimable wealth of skill, techniques and secrets.

Interview

©Barbini Specchi Veneziani

©Barbini Specchi Veneziani

How important is it to be still working here in Murano?

Giovanni: This craft is inextricably tied to our territory, and the name of our product already says it with absolute and unequivocal clarity: Venetian Mirrors. For centuries, this is where the art of glass developed like nowhere else in Europe.

What inspires you and how do you update tradition?

Vincenzo: My sources of inspiration are always tied to tradition, which I adapt to the taste of the times with the support of young designers. But we leave the fundamental features of tradition intact. As a result, we boast over 1,000 models in our catalogue.

Are modern technologies important in your craft?

Giovanni: Usually, we “old” craftsmen look at new technologies with a closed mind, without thinking that these could, instead, enrich our knowledge, enhance the techniques that we already use and, consequently, make our craft even more unique.

What surprises your visitors and customers most?

Vincenzo: They don’t expect to see a whole series of artisans specialised in engraving, cutting, grinding, silvering, assembly, doing all the work exclusively by hand. Which is what makes every piece absolutely unique, even when it belongs to an order of many apparently similar mirrors.

Giovanni & Vincenzo Barbini are master artisans: they began their career in 1980 and they started teaching in 1980

Works

©Barbini Specchi Veneziani

©Barbini Specchi Veneziani

©Barbini Specchi Veneziani

©Barbini Specchi Veneziani

©Barbini Specchi Veneziani

Where

Experiences

Venetian mirrors

45 Mins

15 EUR per person