In 1291, fearing destruction by fire of Venice's mostly wooden structures, the city's glassmakers were ordered to relocate to the islands of Murano. Murano's glassmakers soon numbered among the island's most prominent citizens. Murano’s glassmakers held a monopoly on high-quality glassmaking for centuries, developing or refining many technologies including crystalline glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicolored glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano still employ these centuries-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass jewelry to Murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers. Here we see a demonstration in the factory of Malusa & Company.