Published on the occasion of the exhibition held at Galleria Junck & Gianolla (11 October – 16 November 1997), this volume investigates a fascinating and relatively unexplored aspect of nineteenth-century Murano production: the presence of dragons, serpents, and sea monsters within its decorative repertoire.
 
Through essays by Rosa Barovier Mentasti, Claudio Gianolla, Rossella Junck, Cristina Tonini, Aldo Bova, Corinna Mattiello, Igo Silic and Vittorio Ferro, the book reconstructs the cultural, technical, and collecting context in which this fantastic imagery developed—ranging from revival pieces “in the old style” to highly imaginative works distinguished by exuberant zoomorphic decoration.
 
Special attention is devoted to Milanese collecting in the second half of the nineteenth century, to the leading Murano personalities and firms of the period, and to conservation issues relating to historical glass. The volume also includes a glossary of terms used in Murano furnaces and a rich iconographic apparatus featuring photographs and reproductions from period catalogues.
An essential reference for scholars and collectors alike, this catalogue significantly enhances our understanding of nineteenth-century Murano glass and its extraordinary imaginative universe.