What Is It Worth?

[rmillyn]

Hi, I'm so glad I found your website. I have a vase that I bought several years ago, along with a glass flower, from an artisan shop in the Gulf islands. At the time it just seemed pretty and I really wasn't paying a lot of attention, but now I want to donate them to an auction and when I looked at the Murano label and then looked online I realized I haven't a clue what to value it at. Or whether its really a Murano.

The small hard to read print on the label says 'Lavorazione', same label on the flower. Thank you so much for your help!

[TxSilver]

Hi and welcome! The two pieces you showed have been a mystery to Murano glass collectors. No one really knows the origin of the pieces, such as the flower, that have the Lavorazione label. I believe they are made in Italy in the style of Murano, but are not made in Murano. Neither the vase or flower have value beyond what one would pay in a retail store. If the auctioneer begins with a low opening bid, someone may snap them up because they are pretty. They aren't currently considered collectible.

Hope this helps.

[rmillyn]

I'm sorry to find out they are not the real thing but at least they are not made in China. Thank you for the help!

[artifice]

Hi The label uses words that lead people to think,the item is made in Murano ,lavarazione means worked by hand Murano is used as brand and Made in Italy is true, generally any item starting with Arte Murano is implying in style of Murano but it is not made in Murano in short a marketing ploy to sell other italian glass and giving it cache of Murano glass I would dearly like to find the distributor as they handle a great amount of glass,first we need to find company who make some of this glass and find who they sell onto I think it must be a chain of companies as internet search dont reveal anything useful.Cliff

[rmillyn]

Well, for what it's worth I bought this at a place called Renaissance Gallery on Pender Island (BC). I did try to find out the source but maybe didn't do a great job of framing the question well, because I was told it comes from Murano and what difference does it make who the middle source is. Also told that yes it is a collectible. Since I have no idea what kind of questions to ask I think I'll just stick with the first plan

[tam bam]

Hi rmillyn and welcome to the forum.

What Artifice means is that we have been trying to find out what company in Italy makes the type of glass you are showing to us. The word Murano on a piece of glass is not always the origin of the glass (Not unless it says Made in Murano, Italy). In your case it is used as a marketing ploy. Your glass is made in the style of true Murano glass, but it is not from the island of Murano. A piece of glass can only be Murano if it comes from the island of Murano and not any place else. We really do not know where your glass comes from. All we know it is from Italy but where in Italy? There are many glass furnaces outside of Murano and in the mainland of Italy so trying to pin point a location has not been successful.

There is no middle man, just a glass company that makes glass in the style of Murano glass somewhere in Italy.

I hope I didn't confuse you anymore.

tam bam

[rmillyn]

Its all straight now, thanks tam bam and everyone.