Murano glass is known around the world for its artistic value and incomparable beauty and for this reason we often run the risk of finding it counterfeit and sold as real. So how can we be sure that we are buying real Murano glass, handcrafted by Venetian masters and artists, and not a cheap knockoff?
How to know if a glass is original Murano? So you can identify it
To identify this type of crystal that is unique in the world, we must take into account several aspects that we summarize below:
Watch carefully
Take a good look at the piece of murano glass you want to buy, does it have the typical characteristics of a handmade product , that is, the presence of small bubbles inside the glass and a slightly uneven surface? Is it extremely bright, light, and made up of a series of juxtaposed layers? Is it made following some of the traditional techniques mastered by the Murano masters, such as Millefiori, Phoenician, Bulicante or Sommerso?
Murano glass is handcrafted in old Murano kilns and therefore its composition is visibly irregular and its weight is much lighter than worthless replicas . In fact, in Asian industrial productions, a lot of very heavy glass is used that shares very little with the precious glass used in Murano productions. Furthermore, industrial glass products are renowned for being often composed of a single very thick layer, unlike Murano creations where glass objects are composed of several very thin layers applied one on top of the other.
Certificate of authenticity
Is the product accompanied by a certificate of authenticity or a label certifying its origin? And does the description say that it is “Murano glass” or “Murano style glass” and the like?
To obtain the Certificate of Authenticity, the products that come out of the ovens are subjected to very rigorous inspections. Only after they have passed quality control can objects have a label applied to certify their quality and authenticity. Make sure the product you are buying has this label on it.
Engraved with the master’s signature
Each Murano glass object is produced entirely by hand and is unique; the signature of the master on each piece guarantees its authenticity. Before buying any product, it is a good idea to check that the signature of the master who created it is engraved.
Sometimes it happens that, for aesthetic reasons, the Murano masters decide not to put their signatures on glasses, carafes, mirrors and chandeliers; In that case, it will be good to look for alternative evidence of authenticity, such as the presence of a central point at the base of the glass that indicates that the glass has been blown. If the base of the glass is completely smooth, or there are no irregularities in the product, it is likely that it is an article of industrial production and therefore a copy.
Look at the price
If the item you are buying is priced too low compared to the market average, become suspicious. Although many Murano manufacturers manage to offer reasonable prices, they will never be able to compete with Chinese counterfeits!
The value of Murano art is based not only on ancient manufacturing techniques, but also on the use of precious materials for production. Silver leaf, gold leaf, platinum, alexandrite and aventurine are precious and expensive materials that are applied with ancient and meticulous techniques. If the price of an object is very low, it is unlikely that it was obtained using these valuable materials. It is more credible that fake decorations were used in imitation of the originals.
Who is the seller?
Is the seller trustworthy? Do you have a reasonable knowledge of Murano glass and its history? Do you offer a wide range of Murano glass products , including vases, chandeliers and other artistic products? If you are also a manufacturer, can you create personalized objects with different decorations, colors or shapes according to your requests?
Generally, if you can answer ‘yes’ to all of these questions, you can be pretty sure that you are dealing with a genuine Murano glass object.
Finally, it should be added that when choosing a Murano glass item, it will be good to trust your instincts and also common sense. Most importantly, if it smells like cheating, get as much information from the seller as possible, and if you’re not satisfied, ask someone else.
