The Search for Genuine Murano Glass

When I think of glass, I don’t conjure up Waterford or Swarovski…I think of Murano. Murano Island, sharing the same waters with Venice, is renowned for its magnificent glass and artisans going back to the 13th century. There is only one place where you can be guaranteed to purchase Murano Glass, and that is on the island. While hundreds of shops in Venice sell items they claim are Murano, just recently over a million pieces were found to be fakes made in China.

During my recent visit to Venice in September, I truly looked forward to hopping a water taxi and making way to my favorite Murano shop, Signoretti’s. There, I was greeted by a guide who was a look-alike for Antonio Banderas (and who was just as charming, I might say). Daniel could move anyone to drop quite a few Euros for a unique piece of glass!

Signor Signoretti had been a fireman in Italy. While he and his wife decided to continue her family’s Murano glass business, he was deeply moved by the tragedy of 9/11. Since that time, he maintained a memorial at his glass factory and contributed thousands of dollars over the years to help surviving family members.

During my tour with Antonio, I mean Daniel, I was able to again watch an artist at work. Signoretti offers exquisite blown and crafted glass; jaw-dropping chandeliers, glasses, figurines, vases, jewelry and art. EVERY single piece is hand made and unique. They are the only factory that has the rights to reproduce Picasso art in glass medium! In fact, they have a few very seasoned artisans who will eventually cease their craft which means that much of this artwork will no longer be created. It was fun to see pictures of Picasso and Salvador Dali visiting Signor Signoretti with an interest in his remarkable glass techniques.

Because of the recent copycat fakes, Signoretti does not allow visitors to take photos of their factory and crafts. However, Daniel did allow me to take one picture of an amazing chandelier, as long as I promised not to share it with Chinese forgers. I gave my word. (I honestly don’t think any will be reading this blog!)

Because they knew I would be writing about my experience, I got a special peek at their cordoned-off area containing many high-end pieces of art. Imagine a glass horse at about ½ size! Picasso art in glass, so many magnificent pieces that it was a sensory overload. And there was always the horse luring your eyes to the middle of the showroom to take another look. It all may have been too much for my budget; but, for a brief moment, I was standing in the middle of magnificence.

So, did I buy? You bet I did. With the millions of fakes out there, I wasn’t going home with anything but a Signoretti Murano Glass piece of art. I also discovered that there is one way you can distinguish the fakes from the real deal…the price! When you buy real Murano glass, you definitely feel it in your pocketbook.

So, I bought a bird…made with the signature Murano floral chips, enhanced with gold stranded wings and beak. It now is perched next to my mother’s glass blue bird of paradise. It seems fitting…she would have loved Venice and a trip to the island.

I may have left Murano Island much lighter in Euros, but I left with a smile and knowing that I now possess a treasure…a REAL treasure.