There is something special about Murano glass. But many attempts of imitation Murano glass have been made, so it’s important to make sure there actually is something special about your piece. Is your Murano glass vase authentic? Is your Murano glass from Italy? Our in-house expert in the field of Murano glass, Fiammetta Fulchiati, inherited her love of antiques and especially of Murano glass from her family. She's traveled to Murano to see for herself how the masters work, has been an expert in her family business and today uses her passion and expertise to curate our Murano glass auctions. Here she explains more about the history and technique of Murano glass and how to buy genuine pieces online.
About Murano Glass
The history of Murano glass making goes back as far as the 8th century. By the 12th century Venice had become extremely popular for its fine glass products. In order to keep the glass production business unique and profitable, a law passed in 1271 stated that no foreign glass could be imported for production and no foreign glassworkers were to be employed. However, in the 13th century all glass making furnaces were moved from Venice to Murano by law, because the fires in the furnaces provided great risk for the wooden structures of Venice. Combined, these two laws ensure that Murano glass is still unique today; created by artists and craftsmen from a small group of islands in Italy. The secrets of glass making are passed down from father to son and from master to pupil.
The 'special ingredient' in Murano glass is silica sand, while special fluxes and stabilisers are added to melt the glass at lower temperatures and create beautiful objects. Minerals like cobalt and copper, as well as gold and silver foil, are often added for colour. Century old techniques are still used, making Murano glass a very special type of art.
Unfortunately there are many fake Murano glass objects to be found both online and even in the Murano region. Because of the uniqueness, sophistication and complexity of technique that distinguishes Murano glass all over the world, it is highly popular to imitate. But it is possible to tell the difference between a real Murano glass vase and a fake, even when you are buying online! Here are 4 tips from Catawiki's expert Fiamatta:
1. Website
There are a lot of indicators that inform you whether a website is reliable. Italian Murano companies today sell online, and you can find many genuine, vintage Murano objects on online auction platforms such as Catawiki. We have a team of in-house experts like Fiamatta that review all Murano glass vases and other objects offered up for auction for quality and authenticity. And they can often tell you a lot about the history of an object.
2. The Difference
Each Murano glass vase and other artwork is made by hand, while replicas often are mass produced. So when buying online, look closely at the photos for irregularities: a slightly uneven surface, or perhaps a tiny bubble in the glass. These ‘flaws’ are what make Murano glass unique. Another feature of Murano glass is that the colours are extremely bright and rich, while in remakes the colour is sometimes sprayed on. Pictures with light shining through the glass can help you see the colour more clearly.
3. Proof of Authenticity
You're often provided with proof that your Murano glass object is genuine. A certificate of origin, a picture of the signature of the artist, a sticker with the official Vetro Artistico® Murano trademark on the bottom of the glass, or an inscription saying ‘Murano Glass’, and not ‘Murano Style’ will help you determine the authenticity.
Genuine vintage Murano glass was produced by a few known glass factories of the past: their names, signatures and labels are well known and recognisable.
Distrust most generic labels on ‘vintage’ pieces, and even all generic signatures, because they are almost certainly Murano glass imitations. If the signature on your piece is from a famous Murano master, it is fundamental to check that it's a genuine signature by comparing it with reliable signatures of the same glass artist.
If the piece is not signed or labeled however, it is still possible that it came from a less famous Murano glass factory of the past. In our Murano glass auction we make sure to include unattributed pieces that are genuinely from Murano Italy. And now that you know what to look for, you can let your eyes confirm it for yourself by looking at the glass, the manufacturing details and technique involved.
4. Price
Although nearly everyone enjoys hunting for bargains, it is best to not do so when buying Murano glass vases and other objects. Murano glass is not cheap for good reason: the glass is unique, handcrafted and produced by glass artists that use ancient special techniques. You can get a good price for it though, on an auction for example, but stay away from cheap bargains. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
Are you ready to start a Murano glass collection? Or are you looking for a beautiful Murano glass vase to decorate your home with? Check out our Murano Glass auction! Or perhaps you own a piece of Murano glass from Italy that you’d like to sell. It could be worth some money, but there’s only one way to find out. Register as a seller and offer it up for auction!
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