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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: janettekay on December 31, 2010, 07:37:46 PM

Title: Yellow Fish Paperweight..Murano Label but Unfinished Base
Post by: janettekay on December 31, 2010, 07:37:46 PM
hi all
I have a question..this yellow fish paperweight..makes me pause to question....
I have always assumed that Murano PW's would have a polished base..(and as stated on this board...the unpolished usually mean Chinese)...
But this one does have a label..(one posted on the "label thread") and label seems to have been there awhile..not recently added.
Quality seems better than recent Chinese import-incl. gold flakes)

My question..did/do some Murano makers not polish bases?

TIA
janette

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/murano%20yellow%20fish%20pw/th_muranofishpw005.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/murano%20yellow%20fish%20pw/?action=view&current=muranofishpw005.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/murano%20yellow%20fish%20pw/th_muranofishpw004.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/murano%20yellow%20fish%20pw/?action=view&current=muranofishpw004.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/murano%20yellow%20fish%20pw/th_muranofishpw002.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/murano%20yellow%20fish%20pw/?action=view&current=muranofishpw002.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/murano%20yellow%20fish%20pw/th_muranofishpw007.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/janettekay/murano%20yellow%20fish%20pw/?action=view&current=muranofishpw007.jpg)
Title: Re: Yellow Fish Paperweight..Murano Label but Unfinished Base
Post by: TxSilver on December 31, 2010, 08:12:40 PM
This one is a puzzler. If it did not have the Murano label, I would have thought it Chinese -- not only because of the base that is not completely polished, but also because of the fish floating toward the top of the pw. The label is a contemporary one that I've heard is available to shop owners. I suspect your pw may be one of the ones that were made in China and had a label added by a shop owner. I think this is a good thread to transfer to the paperweight board, because some of the people there know more about these things.
Title: Re: Yellow Fish Paperweight..Murano Label but Unfinished Base
Post by: KevinH on December 31, 2010, 11:35:50 PM
I do not know whether 20th century items from Murano sometimes had a ground base, but many 19th century weights did! But the grinding was more transluscent.

However,
Quote
... as stated on this board...the unpolished usually mean Chinese ...
is a not a strictly accurate interpretation of things. Lots of Chinese weights have had a rough ground base and often with an indent or two in the "circlular" formation of the base. But in more recent years lots of items from China & Taiwan have a polished base! Also, there have been many makers around the world who have applied a light grinding to the base of weights - particularly studio artists where the full cost of polishing was seen as unnecessary. So, to say "unpolished usually means Chinese" is not really accurate.

As for the fish weight, I agree that it is most likely a Chinese item to which somebody (perhaps an importer or a dealer) has added a generic Murano label. These fish look rather like dolphins and the ones I have seen have been a dark colour (like a dolphin) rather than yellow, but perhaps they were made in many colours.
Title: Re: Yellow Fish Paperweight..Murano Label but Unfinished Base
Post by: janettekay on January 01, 2011, 01:07:27 AM
thank you both !!!   I love learning things here on the board!!--

I purchased this via a charity auction..with inadequate photos (esp of bottom)...knowing that no matter what it was...money (though not an expensive purchase)  went to a good cause !