Reviving an historic mosaic foundry: the 19th Century Orsoni foundry in Venice, Italy, recently underwent a renovation and now houses the original foundry and color library as well as a new five-bedroom bed and breakfast inn, office space and a mosaic gallery.(CLASSICS)

Contemporary Stone & Tile Design, March, 2007 by Stinnard, Michelle

The original Orsoni foundry was established in the neighborhood of Cannaregio in Venice, Italy, in 1888. Housed in a structure comprised of brick and stone, the company is still in operation today, and an array of mosaic glass products are still hand produced at the factory on a daily basis. Dedicated to the production of Venetian glass smalti and gold leaf mosaic, the foundry was purchased by Trend Group S.p.A. of Vincenza, Italy, in 2003. The Orsoni compound itself has since grown to include a total area of approximately 10,000 square feet, comprising the original foundry and color library, as well as Domus Orsoni, which contains a five-bedroom bed and breakfast inn, office spaces and a mosaic gallery.

The history behind Orsoni is a unique story of an art...

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