A talented restorer, Simona Iacovazzi is always been one of those privileged human beings whose job is definitely about art and beauty. Extremely passionate and meticulous, these people usually spend most of their workday on a scaffolding or in a lab, cleaning, remedying cracks and trying to bring back to light colorful artworks that time forgot.
In 2008, from her vibrant Apulia, Simona had come to Venice in order to work on one of these restoration projects, that sometimes struggle to start because of a missing permit or a delayed funding. Unexpectedly free, under the suggestion of her Venetian friend and restorer Evelina Pescarolo, she attended for the first time a glass bead workshop based on the traditional lampwork technique.
Produced by the action of fire on glass, lampwork beads are alchemical masterpieces manufactured through a slow, painstaking process that requires time and patience. Specifically, beads are created wrapping sticks of colorful molten glass around a copper needle. Combining colors and materials - as in some cases artists fuse thin layers of gold or silver to the bead; knowing how to properly use the flame and ensuring a smooth cooling process are just parts of this delicate, fascinating art.
Simona, whose manual skills and sensitivity to colors are extremely developed, immediately loved the job as she already relished Venetian culture.
With her partner Evelina decided to open a lab in one of the less crowded areas of the city, and patiently started to work on her colorful production, respecting the precious glass-masters’ heritage and reinterpreting it with a modern vision.
Her ongoing project, called Perlamadre, was named after the “mother bead”: the first drop of molten glass, considered by Murano’s ancient masters the bead’s soul. Winning the Ottagono design award in 2012 with the Butterfly collection, the jewelry participated in several International trade fairs, improving year by year the quality of its production.
Simona, who likes to remind that the most difficult piece has yet to be made, not only embraced with passion the glass making tradition, but also the slow rhythm that makes Venice a very special city. In her spare time, in fact, she performs the Venetian rowing, benefiting from the magic quietness that keeps inspiring her work.
Perlamadre design also arranges one-to-one workshops, in which anyone can build his own bead jewel: a magic experience and a unique chance to understand Venice essence.
Have a Glass in Venice is proud to suggest this stop as part of its urban off the beaten path tour in Dorsoduro.
For more info visit: http://www.perlamadredesign.com/index.php