We made the mistake of buying in Murano our first day in Venice. We bought some drinking glasses for 55 euros apiece from Artigianato Veneziano Di D' Este Norina & C. Snc at Fondamente Manin 47. Later we saw the same glasses all over Venice for about 22 euros. We realized it's better to look around Venice first to get an idea about prices before buying on Murano, Not sure this applies to chandeliers, but definitely for smaller items.
Posted by
Houston, TX
487 posts
It is possible that the glasses you bought were actually made in Murano and the others were imports from China. There is a lot of glass that is imported and a much cheaper price is one of the distinguishing characteristics.
Posted by
11130 posts
L'Isola ( by Carlo Moretti) sells beautiful handmade blown glasses pieces in Venice.
Posted by
OP
21 posts
It's possible but we looked carefully and could see no discernible differences.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32701 posts
Did both the glasses you bought and the imitations have the Murano trademark on them? The trademark which guarantees genuine Murano looks like on this link:- http://www.muranoglass.com/en/
Posted by
OP
21 posts
I just checked and the ones we bought and they do not have that Murano trademark. Very disappointing
They told us they were made on Murano.
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
167 posts
Murano is slowly dying, put out of business by Chinese imports. The honest stores will mark the Chinese products with an Ex sign meaning that they are Ex Urbe, or out of town. You cannot tell the difference except for the price. Best to ask a local such as your hotel who sells real Murano glass. Apprentice pieces, all excellent, are sold on the Venice to Croatia catamaran, Venezialines. They must also be sold in Venice somewhere too. A real apprenticeship lasts years. The exquisite top end chandeliers etc tend to be real, and priced accordingly. The more you pay, the more likely it is Murano. The big stores will ship big pieces for you.
Posted by
Liverpool UK
440 posts
Wow 55 euros each they must be very nice glasses
Posted by
OP
21 posts
To add insult to injury, they told us we would get back the value-added tax and gave us an orange form that says
TAX FREE (there is no other name of a company), which customs stamped at the airport and we mailed as told, but
we have never gotten the VAT back. I photographed the whole form before mailing but do not see any way to contact
the tax-back company.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Items made in China usually have "PRC" stamped on them.