Murano Art Glass

It is believed that Murano glass is originated from the 9th century Rome, with significant Asian and Muslim influences, as Venice was a major trading port.Murano's reputation as a centre for glassmaking was born when the Venetian Republic, fearing fire and destruction to the city's mostly wood buildings, ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano in 1291. Murano glass is still interwoven with Venetian glass.

Murano's glassmakers were soon the island's most prominent citizens. By the 14th century, glassmakers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed immunity from prosecution by the Venetian state and found their daughters married into Venice's most affluent families. However glassmakers were not allowed to leave the Republic. Many craftsmen took this risk and set up glass furnaces in surrounding cities and as far afield as England and the Netherlands.

By the end of the 16th century, three thousand of Murano island's seven thousand inhabitants were involved in some way in the glassmaking industry.[...]
from wikipedia

Avventurin
translucent glass with threads of gold, copper and other minerals
Cristallino
glass that resembles a crystal, made with mangane and silicon dioxide, this technique developed by Angelo Barovier made Murano glass worldwide famous
Lattimo
opaque glass that resembles porcelain, the milky colour goes from addition of tin oxide
Millefiori
different colour pieces of glass heated to stick together in the mosaic- like form
Lead glass
cheaper and more than cristallino, used for making Murano pearls
filigree glass
the technique developed in 1527, the thiny strings of colour glass melted into the translucent glass form.
ghiaccio
the technique developed in 1570, to the glass are added the pieces of ice, which make the waves giving the item the structure of melted ice.
cut glass
thick glass edorned with flower or geometric motives cut with diamond tools.

More about Murano.

Murano glass beads are perfect for making the traditional chandeliers, but much more interesting is glass blown on purpose.