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In the early 1900's, a young Carlo Donà started working in his father Beniamino's workshop in Murano, Italy where he learned the art of tool making. In 1923 Carlo opened his own workshop in Murano where he and his son, Carletto worked for Murano's most important glass factories. It was there, collaborating with master glassmakers that their glass making tools were refined and tested until the designs became a perfect match to the Masters needs. Today, Carletto's son Roberto continues this tradition, offering tools who's designs have been refined by the worlds best glass blowers for over 80 years.
I am occasionally asked, what makes Carlo Donà tools better than other tools? This is a difficult question to answer because these tools have been informed by the history of glassmaking, the culture of Murano, and the traditions within the Donà family. The only possible comparison is to those tools that were attempted copies. The idea that it is possible for an untrained tool maker to successfully reinvent glass making tools is novel. Roberto began his apprenticeship as a tool maker when he was 15 years old. He has had decades of experience learning hand forming techniques from his father and grandfather as well as years of experience collaborating with the world's best glassblowers. The functionality of the tools and the materials have been tested over and over in hot shops where Roberto is considered a part of the team.
So what does make Carlo Donà tool better? One of the main differences between a Muranese tool maker and an American tool maker is that in Murano, the tool maker is part of the team of glass workers. In America the tool maker is a vendor, usually with remarkably little contact or interaction with the glass making process. When you own a Donà tool you own part of the history of Muranese glass.
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