Our Family Legacy

My family has been crafting decorative accents for decades now. And I couldn’t be any prouder or any more enthusiastic to carry on a family tradition that has been passed down generation after generation.

The age-old tale of our company all begins with my great grandfather Benjamin Mandruzzato. He himself founded the family business back in 1934 and then taught my grandfather Luigi Mandruzzato the carving and styling techniques he would use. Luigi Mandruzzato proceeded to raise his own son with the in-depth knowledge he obtained from his father and the rest is history.

My father, Gianfranco Mandruzzato, had the opportunity to work on projects for global phenomenons like Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Max Ernst. His expertise and his once-in-a-lifetime experiences inspired him to begin creating unique geometric designs that were unlike any others during the time.

Ever since I was a young boy growing up in Italy, I knew I would one day have a career in glass grinding. After all, I was set to one day take over the family business. While children were not permitted to be near the fire, the diamond wheels or the drills, I was intrigued by them early on as I would watch my family harmoniously produce amazingly beautiful pieces out of the finest Murano glass.

To sharpen and refine my carving skills as a professional artisan, I took part in rigorous training and various workshops. Once my training was complete by 2000, I decided to fuse together my newly learned skills along with my family traditions to go forward and make a name for myself as an independent sculptor. This is when I began mixing mediums with the Murano Glass to give it a contemporary flair, including wood, stainless steel and a variety of precious metals.

A couple of my favorite creations to date are a 1280 kg 7m x 4m sculpture known as the “Anghelos”, as well as a piece which is titled “Embrace” and displayed at the Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Another favorite is the “Diva”, a sculpture that is permanently in place at the Hermitage City Museum’s contemporary art exhibit in St. Petersburg.

The list of clients I have worked with includes household names, such as Armani, Fendi, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf & Goodman, Harrod’s, Nissan Motors, Ajmal Dubai Perfums and more. I strive for perfection when it comes to service and quality, which is why the job’s never done until my client is completely satisfied. When I get to witness the joy and excitement expressed by a client, I know that the countless hours of work I put into every piece are more than worthwhile.

My company was officially trademarked in 2011, and we fully meet all European and UNESCO safety regulations for being located in the lagoon of Venice. There are only 47 families that have been approved by the Vetro Artistico Murano, an organization that protects native Italian artisans and their right to produce glass on the Italian Island of Murano. The Mandruzzato family is honored to own the Factory number 38.