If you buy a Murano glass in internet or in a shop, many times you could take home a glass made in China or East Europe. Really? Unbelievable? But it is… Murano glass has a tradition made of centuries of history, and it is really a unique and great World heritage, but in the last 30 years it suffered for a wrong idea of globalization (as many of “made in Italy” products). In few words: copies and cloning from other countries. Low quality and industrial production are the products features of that copies, instead of high art level and handmade craft of Murano isle glasses.
It is difficult to believe, but the millions of tourists coming every year to Venice have often caused the growth of a lot of shops selling low quality and low price glass saying they are from Murano. But it is not the truth.
This shops can make easy revenues taking advantage of the demand of non-conscious consumers. So we have a strange situation: orders to master craftsmen of Murano are really going down, and orders for imported low quality glasses are growing up. A lot of local associations for the protection of the original Murano products have criticized and denounced this situation, that has also a big relevance in local newspapers, but it is not easy to uproot this system.
For that reasons the Veneto Region and the “Consorzio per la promozione del vetro di Murano” (the consortium of Murano glass master craftsmen) have decided to create a new brand (Vetro Artistico Murano®) to certificate the origin of glass products. Producers who use this brand have to be certified and legally recognized as producers of the isle of Murano (Law No. 70 of 12/23/1994). This is an absolute guarantee of origin of the product of the island, that you can find with the brand numbered with the logo. This brand is a warranty for the consumer and a precious protection for “made in Italy”. When you are inside a shop, you can ask if they participate in this consortium and make them show you the logo Vetro Artistico Murano®.
You have also to know that some Murano producer do not participate in the consortium. The reasons are long to explain, but finally they prefer to be independent or they believe that their name, brand and skills protect them by themselves. This happen also for some small laboratories.
If a shop or a producer have not the logo Vetro Artistico Murano®, be more careful in your choice, and ask for detailed informations. Ask the seller the name of the artist producer, look for his sign on the glass (many times the masters sign his products). If you are buying an expensive product, such as an artistic mirror or chandelier, make it evaluate by an expert, or look at the producer website to see if the product is really the same.
Often a big discount or a too low price are an indication of a fake product, expecially if it has no guarantee. Just becoming a conscious buyer you will be sure to buy an original Murano glass product to exibit in your house or office, or to make a unique gift.
Of course, all the products of this website are exclusively made in Murano isle, and we can give you all the warranties we spoke above. Have a good navigation.
