New collector help!!

[Tghammond]

This is my first purchase. On 25/09/06 I was in Venice at the Vetreria Artistica Vivarini glass factory. I purchased a vase for 318.00 euros. I was advised by the clerk that all Murano Glass was engraved with a signature to indicate it was genuine Murano Glass. I also observed many Murano Pieces in Venice in various shops and each piece was signed as well.
Today I received my vase and it was not signed or labeled in any way. Without the authenticity I might of just as well have purchased a vase in Wal-Mart for $5.00. Should this vase be signed and how can anyone be sure of its authenticity?

[glassman]

This is my first purchase. On 25/09/06 I was in Venice at the Vetreria Artistica Vivarini glass factory. I purchased a vase for 318.00 euros. I was advised by the clerk that all Murano Glass was engraved with a signature to indicate it was genuine Murano Glass. I also observed many Murano Pieces in Venice in various shops and each piece was signed as well.
Today I received my vase and it was not signed or labeled in any way. Without the authenticity I might of just as well have purchased a vase in Wal-Mart for $5.00. Should this vase be signed and how can anyone be sure of its authenticity?

Vivarini is a legitimate company, who are in the old Seguso building. In fact, most murano glass is unsigned. If you search through these forums, you will see that attributions are usually made based on style, color and design. A signature definitely helps, but is not required to authenticate. However, if I spent over 300 euro on a vase, and was told that it came with a signature, I would expect it to be there. Was there a label or certificate that came with the vase?

[Cheryl Sussex]

This is my first purchase. On 25/09/06 I was in Venice at the Vetreria Artistica Vivarini glass factory. I purchased a vase for 318.00 euros. I was advised by the clerk that all Murano Glass was engraved with a signature to indicate it was genuine Murano Glass. I also observed many Murano Pieces in Venice in various shops and each piece was signed as well.
Today I received my vase and it was not signed or labeled in any way. Without the authenticity I might of just as well have purchased a vase in Wal-Mart for $5.00. Should this vase be signed and how can anyone be sure of its authenticity?

This does not surprise me. I was in Murano recently and I was shocked at the way buyers of glass are treated. All they want is your money, full stop. I got myself a glass clown from a glass factory and when I got it home the head had been broken off and glued back on. I was very silly in not inspecting the item fully. But when buying new glass the last thing you think of is of damage.

The whole area must be the most popular tourist place on the planet. As such you must guard and protect yourself from the con men.

Having said all this I did buy some other items which were perfect, signed, labeled etc which I am very pleased with.

[publius71]

This does not surprise me. I was in Murano recently and I was shocked at the way buyers of glass are treated. All they want is your money, full stop. I got myself a glass clown from a glass factory and when I got it home the head had been broken off and glued back on. I was very silly in not inspecting the item fully. But when buying new glass the last thing you think of is of damage.

The whole area must be the most popular tourist place on the planet. As such you must guard and protect yourself from the con men.

Having said all this I did buy some other items which were perfect, signed, labeled etc which I am very pleased with.

I have had both good and bad experiences with my travels to Murano. Some hotels funnel hapless tourists into a water taxi ride to Murano, where they are pressured into buying glass. If they dont purchase at all or not enough, they wind up taking the Vaporetto home. Some of the travel message boards are littered with bad glass buying experiences.
On the other hand, there are many gracious companies that spend time educating and taking care of their customers.