What are they ?

[rocket420]

I purchased these 2 figurines from an estate sale a couple of years ago they are marked made in italy murano i am trying to get info. on these as well as a value.

[TxSilver]

The figurines are not glass. They appear to be ceramic -- porcelain perhaps.

[TxSilver]

I want to add that the Murano sticker is an add-on. It is used on glass and doesn't match the age of your figurine.

[junkie]

Are there any other marks on the bottom of these pieces. I have seen the pieces before in my junking. If there are no maker marks they might be South American, China or Japan. The gold band is not even enough for German, English, Or French neither is the quality. They have an Italian look but remember all the Europeans in South America that make the same things. I have spent much time in Argentina and Brizil and you see a lot of it made there that seldom makes it her.

A side note between French and Italin furniture. The french had talanted artist and great metal workers. French furniture has bronze and brass cast pieces on the corners and other parts of their furniture. The Italians did not have the money, metal or craftsman so they guilded everthing to get the same look. That is the general rule but there are exceptions.

Old pieces might have a strange faint mark a few have no mark but they are several hundred years old. Most items by top quality makers have their makers mark in it because they take pride in their craft. You will find a lot of items with crossed soards made in Japan. They copy the good makers but even the marking is of poor quality and the marks are different.

If there is another mark post a picture and I will look it up. I have books with every mark and lable for just about everthing except Murano glass. If there is no marke my guess woud be they are from China. The wrong lable and writing tells me that someone was trying to pass them off for someting they are not. I don't think they are as old as the writing says they are.

I am also a tool collector and I have seen new China power tools in cases that have lables form top manifactures cut out or printed out and placed on the tools and boxes. They take a $40 tool and ask $150 at the swap meet. I see this sort of thing all the time. I also picked up a nice piece of BlueMountain Pottery form Canida that had been painted over on the head of a deer. It was damaged and filled in. It was not until I cleaned it did I see it and the paint was coming off in my hands. I paid $8 and placed it on Ebay. I had a bid of $68 with 4 days to go. I had to cancel the auction. It was a $125 piece. They are regular sellers that are good at covering up things and selling them at the swap meet. I have had other problems with things I have gotten from them. They did not admit it but I did get my $8 back last Sunday.
Buyer beware. I find that most people use tape to mark family things. they never write on the piece itself. They think to much of what they have to distroy it. While on the subject take a cloth with you and wipe the inside of piece. A little light oil will cover up scratches and water marks that will not come out. This is done all the time to sell a bad piece. Look at the bottom for flee bites. Sometimes they stone out and polish the flee bite. The item will not follow the curve. If there is a smooth little flat spot it is either was a second or someone is hiding the damage. I think I have seen it all and every now and then I see a new one.

I am glad to see all the lables here. Great site. I must add some Murano books to my collection.

[fossilfly]

I agree with Anita, the label was probably added later to increase its perceived value.