Restored in 1998 with Save Venice general funds.

In 1755 Giuseppe Briati, the director of a prestigious glass factory on Murano, donated two crystal reliquaries to the Capuchin fathers of the Redentore. Decorated with multicolored glass flowers and set in niches in the church’s sacristy, these containers hold precious relics belonging to the church.

The reliquaries are among the very few works that can be securely attributed to Briati, whose Murano factory was the first that the Venetian Republic allowed to adapt glass techniques using potassium, which produced glass similar to Bohemian crystal. Briati was well known for his ciocche chandeliers with their characteristic multicolored glass floral bouquets, as well as for elaborate centerpieces and innovative mirrors that did not require wooden frames.

The reliquaries were restored by conservator Serena Bidorini, with the guidance of project director Fiorella Spadavecchia of the Superintendency of Fine Arts of Venice.

For select projects, conservation dossiers in Italian containing limited textual and photographic documentation may be available for consultation by appointment at the Venice office of Save Venice and the Rosand Library & Study Center. For inquiries, please contact us at venice@savevenice.org.

Giuseppe Briati (1686-1772)
Crystal and Glass Reliquaries
1755, crystal and colored glass
76 cm

Chorus Association: Church of the Santissimo Redentore