Water, wood, and glass
All the magic of Venice.
Venice, one of the world’s most unique cities, suspended on water and dotted with magnificent palaces, bridges and “calli” (narrow streets): this magical place, where time seems to have stopped, is filled with art and wonder. The pink hues of sunrise and sunset reflected in the lagoon, the silence of the city at night and the scents of the canals are quite impressive.
The Venetian Briccole.
The Venetian briccole are one of the most iconic elements of the Venice lagoon. Made of oak or larch wood, these structures delineate the navigable canals, guiding boats through the complex water network of the Serenissima.
A unique and resistant wood
From the mountains to the Lagoon.
Historically, the oak or larch wood used to make the Venetian briccole came from various forested areas of northern Italy, particularly from the forests of the Alps and the Triveneto region.
Once cut, the logs were transported via river to the lagoon, using rafts guided by “zattieri” expert navigators who brought the timber to Venice. Another transportation route was by sea, with Venetian merchant ships bringing wood from the Dalmatian and Istrian coasts.
This supply system ensured the maintenance of the Venetian briccole and the entire wooden infrastructure of the city for centuries, including the famous stilts on which Venice stands.
The nature that sculpts the wood
The teredines.
Among the most characteristic elements of the Venetian landscape, the briccole retain within their wood the pure magic of Venice.
However, the action of the lagoon water, tides, and teredines—mollusks that feed on wood—can weaken these poles to the point where they need to be replaced to ensure the safety of navigators. This is how the Venetian briccole can take on a new guise, that of works of art.
Sliced into multiple parts, each veneer of the briccola is unique and rare and is selected based on its artistic impact: the teredines, in fact, work the wood by decorating it with circular tunnels and unexpected shapes, which naturally certify the uniqueness of the work.
