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A new weight, but I'm baffled as to maker - any ideas?

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m1asmithw8s:
I just don't like the dealers who keep calling Chinese weights Murano. What does one do with them? I was at the big Toronto Antique Mall the other day (some former dealers at lamented long gone Harbourfront Antique Center) and two dealers insisted that Chinese paperweights were Italian, when to any discerning eyes they were Chinese. It infuriates me. Perhaps one or two Chinese weights belong in any collection (I have none, preferring to spend my short Canadian Dollars on more quality paperweights), but this falsification riles me. Why do dealers do this?

I couldn't agree more with the above statement.
In my opinion, this trend started on ebay a few years back as, at that time, actual Murano weights were fetching much higher prices relative to modern Chi weights. So a couple of sellers started calling their Chi's Murano in order to realize higher prices. Over time, most everyone who put up a modern Chi weight took to calling it a Murano.
Now, neither Murano or Chi weights fetch very much.
They are easy to spot though and yes, the most infuriating aspect of this are erstwhile reputable & 'knowledgable' dealers who have followed suit.

One interesting footnote: Studios on the island of Murano do have some modern Chi weights mixed in with their weights on display.
This means that Murano studios import them from China like other parts of the world do BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CHEAP & A PROFIT CAN BE TURNED.
However, they are still modern Chi weights!
For example, if a German dealer in Germany possesses & sells to you a rick Ayotte weight, that DOES NOT make Rick Ayotte a German artist.

m1asmithw8s:
...My analogy meaning to point out that simply because a Chi weight makes it way to Murano, that doesn't make it an Italian made weight  :)

And yes, I once saw a modern Chi weight listed on ebay with a fraudulent Ayotte script signature.

Frank:
Ah, but when a name like Murano is used as a trade mark by a Murano glass company who had it produced to their design, it is there work - regardless of the location of the craftsmen.

Let us not forget that we are discussing weights that are made as commodities and not as artworks. I have not heard any public outcry that all of the souvenirs in London are made in China.

When you collect such commodities you have to take into account their social context as well.

Another aspect of this never ending China debate is that opens up a whole new area of collecting. What will happen with Chinese weights when the first book comes out on them and reveals how the industry is developing there. Then we will have big discussions here about which Canton a weight was made in :twisted:

m1asmithw8s:
Frank wrote: Ah, but when a name like Murano is used as a trade mark by a Murano glass company who had it produced to their design, it is there work - regardless of the location of the craftsmen.

Frank, what in the world makes you think that any Murano glass company sent their designs to China to have Chinese craftsmen produce the weights???
Have you been to Murano?
They have so many furnaces & makers in such a small area and certainly have no need to have anyone else anywhere 'produce their designs'.

Furthermore, are those souvenirs in London that are made in China labeled as being 'made in China'? Or are they labeled as being 'made in Italy'?...Or 'made in England'?

You see my point?

Leni:
So who puts the 'Murano' labels on Chinese weights on sale in Murano and Venice?  Or should I say, who authorises those labels being put on Chinese weights?  Are you saying the poor inocent shopkeepers really think the weights came from the glass-house just around the corner?  Because the label says so?  Who are the 'baddies' here?  

You are Estlin-Clichy, and I claim my £5!   :lol:  :twisted:

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