Topic: Murano horse?

[langhaugh]

I'm very reluctant to believe labels where Murano features prominently like this, unless it's a label that I recognize on a piece that fits the label.  The one thing I would add about the label on the original piece in this thread is that I haven't seen the word "Venezia" on Chinese pieces. However, as Christine says, it looks like the label has been added.

Overall, I guess what would be important to me is the quality of the piece I had.  If a Murano piece shares some poor qualities with a piece made in China does that make the Murano piece better than the Chinese piece?  I'd ask the same question the other way around, too. I know I forget sometimes that some pretty horrible stuff was made in Murano, and that some pretty nice stuff is being made in China.

David

[rosieposie]

I agree wholeheartedly with you there David, this Murano Horse   http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-VETRI-MURANO-GLASS-HORSE-FIGURINE-VENETIAN-NICE-/400072600839  is, IMHO, absolutely diabolical in its execution, but is nevertheless, Murano glass. 

I have pieces that I have washed and the label has come loose, and I have had to stick it back on.....labels are a pain....they give little or no proof that the item is what the label says it really is even engraved signatures can be faked.....looking at the way the head on Chris's horse is made, I would say Murano, BUT, if it is Chinese, then I have to concede that there is nothing wrong with well executed Chinese Glass.

[chriscooper]

Why is this post getting so complicated :huh:
Okay forget  the eBay link that Rosie posted. Simply asking if you think this then is probably Chinese......

https://picasaweb.google.com/107067405711297858658/MuranoHorse#5622466790884737730

Then what do you think of this one which as red foil Murano label and is very similar?

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,32028.0.html

Chris :sun:

[Ohio]

Under the circumstances one should not forget what has occurred in the very recent past regarding China/Murano & labels:
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Business/?id=3.1.593936254
http://www.thevenetianclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=114
http://www.travelsignposts.com/wordpress/italy/shopping-in-venice/murano-glass

[TxSilver]

Why is this post getting so complicated :huh:
Okay forget  the eBay link that Rosie posted. Simply asking if you think this then is probably Chinese......

https://picasaweb.google.com/107067405711297858658/MuranoHorse#5622466790884737730

Then what do you think of this one which as red foil Murano label and is very similar?

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,32028.0.html

Chris :sun:

I have to go back to my original thoughts -- maybe Murano, leaning toward Chinese. I looked very carefully at your horse to see where the ears are placed, but with the optic effects of the glass, it is hard to tell. It can be so hard to get good shots of the head when the glass is transparent. The eye and ear on the other side show through.

There used to be an easy way to tell the good resting horses from the bad ones. The good ones had full legs with hooves. The bad ones just had a couple of knees pulled out and a round rump. Then, wouldn't you know, the Chinese and other Italian furnaces started making some with legs and hooves. Next the Chinese will probably make sure that all the ears are higher on the head.

The more I look at animals, the less I'm able to say who made many of the common designs. The sitting cats & dogs, the resting horses, the elephant paperweights, the angelfish, etc., look so much alike between companies that unless there is something exceptional in the details, it is very difficult to distinguish between makers. Chris, your horse has applied hooves, which puts it in the "good horse" category. The neodymium (I think) horse that Rosie pointed out is also in this category -- it is actually a pretty good horse if one likes the colors and high posture.

Many companies in many countries do the shaded glass. It can point toward companies like V. Nason and Campanella, but was used by so many companies that the design itself has to be considered. I still think there is a good chance the horse is Murano glass. I may be pulled toward Chinese, but that doesn't mean anything, particularly if I can't really tell exactly where the ears are coming out... and there is no reason that someone in Murano may not have put the ears on lower.

Don't you love the animals? They are so certain.