Venice: threads of memory

6 locations
For centuries, beads and pearls have travelled through Venice as symbols of beauty, trade and cultural exchange. This itinerary celebrates the impiraresse, the bead-stringers who master the delicate art of threading glass beads, keeping this precious tradition alive today. Through the work of 6 artisans, discover a craft woven with patience and the enduring spirit of Venice.
Alessandra Gardin
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1
artisan
Alessandra Gardin
Inspired by Venice's colours, Alessandra Gardin left architecture to specialise in bead threading and lampworking, resulting in colourful jewelleries.
Fondamenta Sant'Anna 998, 30122, Venice, Italy
Tuesday to Friday 10:30-13:00 / 15:00-17:00; Saturday 10:00-13:00
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Luisa Conventi
©Susanna Pozzoli2024
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artisan
Luisa Conventi
Upholding her family tradition, Luisa Conventi is a bead maker and threader who strings together glass beads to make unique creations, preserving a venerable craft part of the Venetian social fabric.
Calle Priuli dei Cavaletti 100, 30121, Venice, Italy
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 09:00-13:00; Tuesday and Thursday 09:00-17:00
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Orsola Mainardis
©Renato Zanette Fotografo
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artisan
Orsola Mainardis
A Venetian at heart, Orsola Mainardis invites you to discover how she reinterprets the impiraresse tradition with contemporary jewellery and embellish objects rooted in patience and precision.
683 Calle de la Chiesa, 30123, Venice, Italy
Monday 10:30-18:30; Wednesday to Saturday 10:30-18:30
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Marisa Convento
©Nicoletta FORNARO
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artisan
Marisa Convento
As she moved to Venice at the age of 20, Marisa Convento fell in love with glass beads. Today she keeps alive the delicate know-how of bead threading, a historic craft deeply tied to Venice and Marisa's identities.
Bottega Cini, Sestiere Dorsoduro 734, 30123, Venice, Italy
Thursday to Monday 10:30-13:00 / 14:00-17:30
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Renata Ferrari
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5
artisan
Renata Ferrari
Renata Ferrari learnt bead making from her mother, a Venetian beads maker. Nowadays, she continues to carry her mother's heritage by transforming tiny glass beads into luminous work.
Fondamenta Vetrai 158, 30141, Venice, Italy
By appointment only
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Daniele & Stefano Attombri
©Attombri
6
artisan
Daniele & Stefano Attombri
Join Daniele & Stefano Attombri, the brothers who, in the spirit of the impiraresse, transform Venetian conterie into contemporary jewellery.
San Polo 65, 30125, Venice, Italy
Monday to Saturday 10:00-13:00 / 14:30-19:00
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