Murano Glass

I am not a Murano glass expert. I’ve only been on the island once, for 3 hours; and I’ve spent half the day today going around Canaregio, looking glass wares with claims that they have been created in the island of Murano. There’s a difference – easily recognizable – between a glass product created in Murano by virtuoso Murano artists and a glass product created by copycats. A glass product created in Murano has the stamp “Murano Glass”. Going further, a glass product created in Murano by virtuoso Murano artists has a “Vetro Artistico Murano” sticker on it.

A “Vetro Artistico Murano” sticker on a wine stopper purchased on Murano

“Vetro Artistico Murano” is a Murano trademark and certifies that a product has been made on the island of Murano using traditional artistic methods born and developed over a thousand years in the island of Murano. It is a proof of origin provided by the Veneto Region in compliance with the law 70, passed on December 1994.

The second identifiable difference is the quality and design of the product. The more cliché and gaudy-looking a product is, the less the probability that is created by a virtuoso Murano artist. Take for example these wine bottle covers that we bought. One is certified “Vetro Artistico Murano” while the other was just created in Murano. Both we bought on the island of Murano. The one created by a virtuoso artist cost 3 EURs more than the one that isn’t. Before putting your mouse over the photos below, can you identify which is which?

Murano glass maker, not certified

Vetro Artistico Murano

Notice that the design on the left is something you see everywhere. This Murano glass was not created by a certified Murano glass artist. The design is common and one you would probably find in a mall outside Italy. Nevertheless, my eyes are drawn to it. I liked it so I bought it. I knew though, when I bought it, that it may have not been made using traditional Murano glass techniques. And that is fine.

So, let me leave you with this. Just because something is cheap(er) does not mean it is worth the buy, especially if you’re particular with handiwork, design and quality. Choose well! Not everything that glitters is gold. But just because something isn’t certified, does not mean it’s not worth the buy either. Buy what makes you happy, it’s yours anyways. 😉

April 05, 2017 | Venice, Italy