In 1859 Antonio Salviati, a lawyer from Vicenza, established a glassworks, Salviati & C, on his premises at 731 Dorsoduro, Venice, producing a mix of mosaics and enamels in Murano glass, based on his love for the mosaics of the Basilica of San Marco. He did endless hours of research and he produced ?lattimi?, intricately woven filigrees, opalescent glass with floral applications and aventurine (a form of quartzite) threads.

Following success in his participation in the First Glassmakers? Exhibition in 1964 the company needed investors, so Salviati started addressing the markets overseas. The UK showed a huge interested in his mosaics and on 21 December 1866 ?Societ? Anonima per Azioni Salviati & C? was established in London, with the support of Sir Austen Henry Layard and William Drake. A new headquarters was also purchased on the Riva dei Vetrai, Murano.

It became compulsory for the factory workers to attend art school, along with a free school that taught them to read and write, in order to improve their artistic education, which would then improve their financial condition.

Over time the company expanded its products to include glasses, cups, amphoras and vials, which won them first prize in the universal exhibition for 3 years in a row. Mosaic production thrived and was used in projects across the world: the Houses of Parliament in London, Viceroy?s Palace in Alessandria, Egypt, the Opera House in Paris and private homes of rich New Yorkers.

Not even World War 2 could reduce the strength of the brand and in the years following the war they restored their ruined headquarters. In 1959 the production site was moved to Fondamenta Radi 16, where is remains today. In 1965 the company changed its name to Salviati & C spa. In 1987 Salviati was purchased by Gruppo Ferruzzi, which was later transferred to a French company. In 2015 the company was acquired Venetian company the Umana group.