Topic: Identification please ? Thanks

[Tommo]

Hi , could someone tell me please if this is a genuine Murano paperweight ? and if so , why do they make them floating without a base ?
Also , are these type worth anything please ?anyone have a rough $$$$ value please . and are they fakes ..

  http://i2.tinypic.com/vdk5e1.jpg
  http://i2.tinypic.com/vdk5l5.jpg

 http://i2.tinypic.com/vdkg05.jpg
 http://i2.tinypic.com/vdkg8m.jpg




 http://i2.tinypic.com/vdfrr6.jpg

 http://i2.tinypic.com/vdfsc8.jpg

[Simone]

You have 2 different weight photographed, the first one is the base of what could be a Chinese Murano, and the second one could easily be a Murano, although it would be nice to have a closeup of the weight.

[Frank]

Chinese ones don't have the 'Made in Italy'

[Leni]

First one, I don't know.  Second one I'd call 'Chinese Murano'.  Also third.  Label or not.  

With regard to the 'Chinese Murano' weights, I don't know (or care, to be really honest) if they were made in Murano or imported from China by unscrupulous Muranese sellers.  (Well, actually, I do care if Muranese sellers are making a fat profit by trading on their reputation as a centre of glass-making, while exploiting someone else's labour  :evil:  but .... )

I think they can be quite pretty, are usually a bit crude, probably not worth a great deal, and basically are just not my style.  If they 'do it' for you, OK.  But don't reckon to make a profit if you're buying to sell.   That's my NSHO, anyway   :wink:

[Jackie]

I have just read this thread with interest - sorry to be late replying - I am having a catch up!.  I would say that all the weights are Chinese.  Frank says that Chinese weights do not have Made in Italy or Murano etc labels - I am afraid that printing thousands of such labels is the easiest thing in the world for the Chinese.  They are all Chinese copies of Murano weights - I hate the expression Chinese Murano to be honest - it is a contradiction of terms!  Yes unscrupulous traders buy them for pennies from China and pass them off to unsuspecting  tourists as Murano.  Not only tourists either - I know of an American ebay dealer who is selling them as bonafide Murano and was very irate when I told her I thought they were actually Chinese!!  She said that a "reputable Murano dealer had been supplying her for years".  I don't expect she had actually ever been to Murano to see the real thing being made.

It is a very sore subject to the genuine Glass houses of Murano.

[Frank]

The Murano glass houses are just out-sourcing production of souvenir weights to China for cost saving. Which is a perfectly legitimate business and of course the designs are Muranese. It is of course possible that others are producing labels and sticking on to other non Murano weights - a common practise in the antiques trade for as long as the trade has existed. Along with reproduction etcetera.

[Jackie]

There was a big demonstration on Murano during the winter of 2004 where a large number of workers from the glass industry on Murano protested against the foreign (Chinese) imports being sold as Murano glass production.  They carried large placards demanding (in Italian of course) that - A MURANO LABEL = MADE ON MURANO.

It may be legitimate business to out source, as you say Frank, but I have never spoken to one single glass house or reputable trader out there who was happy about the Chinese imports being sold with the Murano labels, and I think the demonstration said it all.

[Leni]

I didn't hear about the demonstration, Jackie.  I'm very pleased to hear it took place!  :evil: Do you know if anything was done as a consequence, and whether the situation regarding the mis-labeling has changed since then?

[m1asmithw8s]

People,

It is Unscrupulous sellers who are perpetuating this fraudulent notion of weights made in China being 'Murano' weights.
This started about 4 years ago and many dealers/sellers followed suit in order to be competitive.
This 'story' about Murano artisans commissioning Chinese makers to make their designs is utter nonsense and is a story put forth by unscrupulous sellers to explain away their deception.
 
Look, there are Chinese weights out their who's designs have been extant for many many years and were always sold as Chinese.
Are we supposed to believe that suddenly around 4 years ago, that these very Chinese designs suddenly became Murano designs that were farmed out to Chinese makers?!

Murano makers themselves are plentiful and quite productive in their own right and have No Need to commission anyone else to make their weights for them.
Moreover, as was said above, this fraudulent labeling of Chinese weights as Murano weights seriously damages the reputation of Murano makers and hurts their bottom line, something I seriously doubt they want to do to themselves.
So their protest is well founded.

Finally, it is a very easy thing for a seller to ask a Murano importer for extra sheets of Murano labels. These unscrupulous sellers do not have to produce them themselves.

Frank, with all due respect and a large nod to your dilligent work on this board, the people or peoples who have told you that Murano makers farm out some of their work to Chinese makers are not telling you the truth.
Please stop perpetuating such erroneous and fraudulent claims...Again with all due respect  

[Jackie]

Mark - your reply was manna to my soul. THANK YOU.

Jackie