Topic: Help with ID (Murano?)

[tropdevin]

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Hi Allan

Does this clickable thumbnailhelp?



Alan

[paperweights]

Thank you.  It does help quite a bit.  

I am certain (my opinion) that they are Chinese.  I pulled out a catalog sent to me by a representative of a Chinese company back in 2003 and the canes are all in there, but not those exact styles.  When I looked through the catalog, I saw several styles of paperweights that I previously would have been sure were from Murano.  The website maintained by the company was www.chinamurano.com.  It no longer exists but the name says it all.

That same factory made three "Clichy baskets" for me including the one pictured below:



and





The comments and pictures in this posting are the copyright of Allan Port. 

[paperweights]

One more thought.  The top center paperweight in Bob Hall's picture has different canes and is from a different maker.  It still looks Chinese to me, but it is possible that this one is from a different or new maker.  Bob says in his article that the weight contains two RB canes for the maker's signature.  So, I am changing my opinion to say maybe this weight originated in Italy.  The other three did not (again, my opinion). 

[SophieB]

The basket is very nice, indeed!! A pity I have never seen this quality in Chinese weights before!!! I would have grabbed it!  :mrgreen:

SophieB

[alexander]

Allan - the top center of Bob Hall's has canes that i've seen more and more of the last few years on eBay.
Especially French ebay where they get listed a dozen at a time.

See eBay id 170467474807 for an auction of a similar weight. The seller has six listed with no signature canes etc.
The listing says "original murano glass" but does not specify maker.

It is telling that the listing says "The picture is indicative, the glass is hand made and some time can be little different."

My vote is very recent Chinese.

Given that there is supposed to be a signature cane in the one in Hall's picture, and the somewhat better than usual setup,
it is not impossible I gues for that piece to have been assembled by Benetti using Chinese canes.

Over all tho I think the biggest problem with Muranese paperweights is that canes are sold wholesale
to anyone who'll pay. So even genuine Murano canes can appear in Chinese weights, and Chinese canes in genuine Murano weights.

Add to that the various other scams Alan mentioned.

[marc]

Two examples, my father bought these paperweights thirty years ago,  more or less. I think are chinese.
Best regards.