In 1291 the mayor of Venice ordered that all the glassworks be moved to the island of Murano, in order to protect Venice from any fires arising from the laboratory ovens. Since then, Murano has become a renowned name linked to beauty and colors. Murano glass is mainly identified by its place of origin, its factories and finally its artisans. You can identify these three sources through an authentication certificate, the signature of the master glassmaker, or the Murano glass catalog.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Quick Ways to Identify Murano Glass
Step 1. Look at the brand
If it says "Made in Italy" or "Made in Venice," it is most likely not Murano glass. These are just two expedients used by non-Murano glassmakers to convince tourists about the origin of the object, without necessarily declaring the false.
- An object with the “Made in Murano” label could be counterfeit. Currently many objects are produced in China and then sold in Venice as Murano glass.
- Similarly, if the item bears the “Murano-style” label, it is unlikely that it is genuine Murano glass.
Step 2. Ask the dealer if the Murano glass item is new or old
A new object must be accompanied by a factory certificate which guarantees that it is Murano glass. If it was bought from an antique dealer, a certificate should be included in the public sale.
Murano glass manufactured before 1980 usually does not have a certificate of authenticity, so this identification method only applies to the most recent glass
Step 3. Be very careful with paperweights and aquariums
These are the objects most easily counterfeited and sold as Murano glass, even if manufactured elsewhere. Follow the next methods to identify Murano glass.
Method 2 of 3: Visual identification
Step 1. Don't rely on your ability to recognize a Murano glass object by its color
This is something that only experts can do with accuracy.
Step 2. Beware of using the Internet for identification
If you are buying a piece, it is best to first make sure that it has a certificate of authenticity, or the signature of the master glassmaker, or has been identified through the catalog.
Step 3. Look for the signature on the glass
The following names belong to Murano glass masters: Ercole Barovier, Archimede Seguso, Aureliano Toso, Galliano Ferro, Vincenzo Nason, Alfredo Barbini, and Carlo Moretti. Many other glass masters have worked in the workshops and factories of Murano.
- If the signature appears to have been engraved on the surface of the glass after it solidified, with a carbide-tipped pen, it is most likely a counterfeit item, which they try to sell you as authentic.
- The next method will help you figure out if the signature is in the correct position. The catalogs will inform you about the location of the signature and the label.
Step 4. Look for obvious traces of gold or silver used in glass making
Step 5. Find evidence that it is a handmade object
The Murano glass is hand-blown, and this means that the object shows bubbles and asymmetrical areas.
Step 6. Look for warping, opacity or smudged colors
Even though handmade items aren't completely uniform, mistakes like these are rarely made.
Method 3 of 3: Identification through the Catalog
Step 1. Read the Murano glass catalogs and glossaries
They are a good reference for starting to recognize the characteristic techniques and styles. Use them as a reference when reading factory catalogs.
Step 2. Request the catalog
The factories have catalogs of their latest products, but possibly also those of vintage items. Look on 20thcenturyglass.com for a list of the most renowned Murano factories, and request the catalog through their website.
Step 3. Contact an expert to help you identify the glass
If you still have doubts about the authenticity of the object, you should contact an antique glass expert and show him all the information you have. While even experts are not 100% accurate, they will do so more clearly than other people.
