LA SERENTINA COLLEZIONE by Amel Chamandy
Jasmine Nadeau, Mixte Magazine, May 2017
The rich history of glassmaking on Murano dates back to the 13th century, when the Venetian Republic ordered the glass- makers to move their furnaces to the nearby island, out of fear of fires, which had become all too frequent in the city. Glassmaking workshops soon sprung up along the canals of Murano (just 10 minutes by vaporetto from Venice). Over time, these pop-ups became world-renowned factories, famous for their unparalleled craft and artistry. The secrets of the trade were guarded jealously, and dutifully passes from one generation to the next, while the glassware produced was prized by the royal courts and sultanates of Europe and Asia. The prestige of Murano glass continues to this day. Desi- gners join forces with glass artists to create blown and moulded pieces that combine age-old Italian tradition with contemporary inspiration, resulting in truly extraordinary collections. After several trips to Italy and time spent learning to make glass mosaics on Murano, Amel Chamandy sat down at her drawing table to design her very first collection of hand-blown glass vases, called La Serenita collezione.
The collection includes seven organically shaped, elegant vases: JASPER, in white and silver leaf; SOLACE (my favourite!) in the colours of the sea, with black wires and yellow accents; JASMINE, a blown-moulded vase with grey and yellow accents; HAZEL, HOPE, and LUNA, each more beautiful than the next; and finally, NIKITA, a blown-moulded centerpiece with a multi-coloured, almost floral design. Every piece is produced in limited editions in Murano, and signed Amel ChamandyTM. The artist plans to add a few piece to the collection every year. Amel Chamandy is a photographer, sculptor, designer, art collector and owner of Galerie NuEdge. Here, you’ll find the Serenita collection, along with multiple pieces by a dozen artists hand-picked by Amel, who has a particular fondness for colourful, abstract art.
