How to Buy Vintage Murano Glass for Resale
Murano is an Italian island in a lagoon off the coast of Venice. Since the 13th century, the island has been synonymous with furnaces and master glass artists who produce some of the finest hand-blown glass in the world.
The glass is breathtakingly beautiful and very distinctive. It is referred to as Italian art glass, Venetian glass, or Murano glass. Vintage pieces dating to the 1950's and 1960's are the subject of this article.
Authentic Murano glass is sought after, highly collectible, and can be considered an investment -- some pieces run in the thousands of dollars or more. Buying vintage Murano glass for resale can be a source of enjoyment and income.
I'll explain some of the highlights of Finding vintage Murano, determining the probable authenticity, and evaluating what to pay and what to re-sell it for.
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Things You'll Need
- Access to antique malls, flea markets and thrift shops
- A web site of your own or seller's account on eBay
- A dependable digital camera and photo editing software
Instructions
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~ FORMS of MURANO GLASS ~
A wide range of objects were and still are made by master glass-makers in Murano. I've included a partial list so you can get a sense of the incredible variety of Murano glass:
- Animals, birds and figurines (as sculpture)
- Basket forms (with handles)
- Bowls
- Chandeliers
- Decanters and Bottles with stoppers
- Jewelry (Necklaces, earrings, bracelets)
- Pitchers
- Seashells
- Smoking trays, boxes and jars
- Table lamps
- Vases
- Vanity accessories -
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~ TECHNIQUES and CHARACTERISTICS of the GLASS ~
Several techniques developed by master glassmakers in Murano made their work distinctive. These characteristics created delicate and intricate designs within the glass. To see examples of each, you can purchase books on Venetian glass or browse Murano websites. I'll highlight some of the most noteworthy here:
- Aventurine (Finely ground bright copper inclusions either scattered or formed in a stripe or swirl pattern)
- Bullicante (Patterns of controlled bubbles embedded in the translucent glass. See the photo of the pink covered dish, below)
- Filigrana or Lattimo (Thin glass threads twisted into a pattern like fine netting)
- Millefiori (Slices of multi-color, floral glass canes with an internal flower design) -
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~ MAKERS of the GLASS; FAMILY NAMES ~
Some of the most desirable and valuable glass to come out of Murano in the mid-twentieth century included the family names/businesses listed below. If you encounter a piece that has its foil Murano label intact or an engraved/incised signature on the piece, the value and authenticity of your piece are more probable.
- A. VE. M. (Arte Vetraria Muranese)
- Barbini
- Barovier & Toso
- Cenedese
- Moretti
- Salviati
- Seguso
- Venini -
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~ INCREDIBLE FINDS... BUYING VINTAGE MURANO GLASS for RESALE ~
I've bought and re-sold dozens of pieces of vintage Murano glass in the past few years, and have always enjoyed a nice return on the cost of the item. Here are three examples of good timing and good fortune:
- One was a Cordonata Oro bowl similar to the piece pictured in Step 3, above. I paid $14 for it in an antique mall in Minnesota, listed it on eBay and sold it for $261. It is valued at $600, but I was pleased with my profit.
- I found the pink opal seashell featured here, in Step 4, at a Virginia antique mall for $90. It is valued at $1,250, and is so stunning, it's in my personal collection.
- The candle holder pictured in Step 5, below, was purchased as a set of two for $29 at an antique mall in Maryland and sold for $279. I found a second pair, taller and of a different color, in another antique mall in Pennsylvania and kept them for myself.
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~ DON'T BE FOOLED BY CHEAP IMITATIONS ~
As I write this, 15,000 items on ebaY are listed as Murano glass. You can be certain that many of the items, especially in the jewelry and vase categories, were made in China. An ebaY seller wrote a free on-line guide on how to identify fake Murano. See the resource list below.
You can also find knock-offs of Murano art glass at places like TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Ross discount stores. Caveat emptor.
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~ LABELS ~
Each Murano glassmaker (business) uses a distinctive label. I've added a link in the Resource section below to a photo gallery of bonafide Murano glass labels.
Buyers of vintage glass should understand that finding a piece that is 50+ years old, especially if it has had multiple owners, may mean the label is totally or artially gone. The absence of a label does not mean the glass is not authentic.
If you want to study Murano glass in more detail, there are several books with full color photos that you can read and use as reference guides. One of the best is "Italian Glass: Century 20" (Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Hardcover) by Leslie Pina (Author)
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Tips & Warnings
If you're going to buy to re-sell, carefully check each potential piece for flaws, cracks, chips or damage. Use your eyes, fingertips, and hold the piece up toward bright light to examine it. Look it over again from all angles before you pay.
The sheer weight of some Murano pieces and/or fragile aspects of the design may require cautious packaging and shipping. You may need to double-box some items (as well as use foam wrap and peanuts) to send it securely. Weigh the piece in its box with packing BEFORE you quote shipping prices.
Require or include insurance in your shipping cost.
Resources
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Comments
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I was given a decanter by my mother-in-law who is now deceased. Her brother was a travel agent, and traveled extensively all over the world. She did not indicate if this was a murano or not, but her brother did not spare cost when gifting her with travel gifts. How can I identify it's origin and maker? Would it be wise to insure it? The glass appears to be blown glass, and is very thick, and colors vary from outside to inside of the decanter.
