Topic: 13" Pink Opaline Urn Vase - Murano?

[Patti3435]

Hi. Just trying to figure out if this is Murano, Czech, French or something else. It is large, stands 13" tall. Thanks for your help!

[Ivo]

Almost certainly from Empoli. The model is in the Etruscan style, modeled after Etruscan antiques. The material is pink opaline, as you probably knew.

[Patti3435]

Thank you very much. It seems like every time I have an Empoli piece, it never brings a good price. Is Empoli not very desirable? I once had a cased glass vase that I thought was phenomenal. I got $15.00 for it on eBay. What are you thoughts on Empoli? Thanks very much.

[chopin-liszt]

A lot of it is very decorative, but it doesn't tend to sell for loads of money.
We discuss glass identification, it's history, it's makers and all sorts of glass-related stuff here, but we don't tend to go in too much for discussing prices or valuations.
Something is only ever worth what somebody is willing to pay for it, markets have trends and fashions, they're not relevant to the glass itself.
I've got a (fairly) big collection of Empoli stoppered bottles - they're big and bright and cheerful, they make a fantastic feature, en masse, on top of my kitchen shelves.

[Patti3435]

Someone on the glass board on eBay just brought up that it looks similar to Steuben Rosaline. Any possibility in anyone's mind? My original thought was always Italy but then I saw some photos of the Rosaline. I think I am still leaning Italian. Thanks. Just don't want to mislead or mislist. 

[obscurities]

Not Steuben Rosaline....  Italy is your likely country of origin.....

Craig

[Patti3435]

Thank you. Just gunshy lately. I know I've told the story here before - Bought a vase at auction for under $50.00 - sold it for about the same. Found out 4 years later it sold at auction for $37,500. Rare Murano piece. I still cry myself to sleep when the mortgage is due! NEVER want to make that mistake again! 

[obscurities]

I have a rule I never violate - EVER.  If I am not 100% sure of what something is.....  I do not sell it....

My collection has many piece of glass sold by people that do not have the same rule..... and I bought them for substantially less than they are worth....

It kills me when I hear stories like yours....

Craig

[chopin-liszt]

But somebody else made a massive profit - if you knew them, perhaps you'd be pleased for them!
No point in crying over spilt milk.
Get to know your glass, handle lots of it and study it, find out about how it's made and the complexity of different techniques - all of that will help you to be able to spot something of exceptional quality when you get hold of it.