Edit ArticleHow to Identify Murano Glass Three Methods:Cursory Ways to Identify Murano GlassIdentifying by SightIdentifying by CatalogCommunity Q&A In 1291, the mayor of Venice, Italy ordered that all glass factories move to the island of Murano to prevent harmful factory fires from affecting Venice.[1] Since then, Murano glass has developed a reputation for beauty and color. Murano glass is first identified by its location, then its factories, and finally its designers. You can identify these sources with a certificate of authenticity, a master glass maker signature or a Murano glass catalog. Look for a sticker or stamp. If it says “Made in Italy” or “Made in Venice,” it is not likely to be Murano glass. These are two ways outside glass makers try to convince tourists that the item was likely made in Murano without stating it is. An item that is labeled “Made in Murano” may be counterfeit. Currently, many items are made in China and sold in Venice as Murano glass.

Similarly, if the item says “Murano-style” it is unlikely to be authentic Murano glass. Ask the seller whether the piece of Murano glass is new or old. New glass from Murano should be accompanied by a certificate from the factory, guaranteeing it is Murano glass. If bought and sold by art or antiques dealers, it should accompany the piece of glass in all sales. Murano glass made before 1980 is unlikely to have a certificate, so this is only a surefire identification method for new glass. Be extra careful with paperweights and aquariums. Don’t count on your ability to identify a real piece of Murano glass by color. Beware of trying to identify Murano glass on the Internet. If you are looking at buying an item, it is better to identify it through a signature of a master glass-maker, a catalog or an authenticity certificate. Look for a signature on the glass itself. The following are master glass makers from Murano: Ercole Barovier, Archimede Seguso, Aureliano Toso, Galliano Ferro, Vincenzo Nason, Alfredo Barbini, and Carlo Moretti.

There are many more master glass makers that worked at Murano glass factories over the years. If the signature looks as though it has been scratched into the surface after it hardened, with a carbide-tipped pen, it is likely a counterfeiter trying to sell a fake piece as a designer original. You will need to move on to the next method to find whether the signature is in the correct place. Catalogs will tell you about signature and label placement. Try to find evidence of real gold or silver used in the production of the glass. Identify evidence of a hand-made piece. Murano glass is hand-blown, meaning there should be bubbles and asymmetrical qualities. Look for misshapen fish, clouded glass or bleeding colors. Request a catalog from the factory itself. Hire a glass expert to help you identify the glass. If the authenticity is still in question, you should contact a local glass antique expert and show them all the information you have. Although experts are not 100 percent accurate, they will have an easier time identifying it than almost anyone else.

If you can’t find an expert, try posting pictures and information on an antique glass forum. You may be able to discover more creative ways of identifying the glass.chandelier radio kino der toten A good indicator that a Murano piece is genuine is the cross-hatched pattern sometimes found on bases and the pinch pliers artists use often have their own identifiable patterns. chandeliers bexleyAnd remember if a piece of Murano sounds too cheep to buy it's more than likely to be fake because even a real small 5" vase can often cost hundreds of pounds. chandelier saint ursanneAlthough lucky bargain hunters do get lucky.Casanova Venetian Glass & Art Follow Seller Representing quality Murano Art Glass imported from Venice, Casanova Venetian Glass offers the largest selection of Murano glass in the United States.

Regular travelers to Murano Island, owners Keith and Marina have visited nearly a hundred glass furnaces, and have since developed discerning eyes for the art glass, one of the most desirable and coveted in the world. Based in Naples, Florida and featuring its very own art gallery, Casanova’s selection contains vases, mirrors, paintings, handmade Venetian masks, sculptures, and more by famous glass masters like Pino Signoretto, Simone Cenedese, and Oscar Zanetti. Casanova also possesses one of the largest selections of Venetian masks in the U.S. Casanova has also established longterm relationships with glass masters of Murano, earning them VIP access to new, one-of-a-kind creations. But alongside new Murano works, the company also offers sought after vintage pieces that have journeyed across the world. Follow Casanova online by visiting their art gallery, or by liking them on Facebook. Follow Casanova online by visiting their art gallery, or by liking them on Facebook.

Antonio Salviati (18 March 1816 – 25 January 1890) was an Italian glass manufacturer and founder of the Salviati family firm. The Palazzo Salviati shop of the Salviati family in Venice A native of Vicenza, Salviati was a lawyer who became interested in glasswork after participating in restorations being done on the mosaics of Saint Mark's Cathedral in Venice. He opened his first glass business in 1859 with Lorenzo Radi, and this firm produced the mosaic glass for the altar screen for the high altar of Westminster Abbey. In 1876, he left this business to establish a new firm. His firm executed the mosaic decoration of the dome of Aachen Cathedral after the designs of the Belgian architect Jean-Baptiste de Béthune. During 1866 Antonio Salviati founded Compagnia Venezia Murano with British diplomat and archaeologist Austen Henry Layard. Pauly & C. - Compagnia Venezia Murano has continued to be an important producer of Venetian art glass. Of particular historical relevance is the mosaic portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, which can be viewed today in the Senate House rooms in the United States, produced by the Compagnia Venezia Murano and donated by Antonio Salviati in 1866.