An item that is labeled “Made in Murano” may be counterfeit. Currently, many items are made in China and sold in Venice as Murano glass. Similarly, if the item says “Murano-style” it is unlikely to be authentic Murano glass.
Murano glass made before 1980 is unlikely to have a certificate, so this is only a surefire identification method for new glass.
If the signature looks as though it has been scratched into the surface after it hardened, with a carbide-tipped pen, it is likely a counterfeiter trying to sell a fake piece as a designer original. You will need to move on to the next method to find whether the signature is in the correct place. Catalogs will tell you about signature and label placement.
If you can’t find an expert, try posting pictures and information on an antique glass forum. You may be able to discover more creative ways of identifying the glass. A good indicator that a Murano piece is genuine is the cross-hatched pattern sometimes found on bases and the pinch pliers artists use often have their own identifiable patterns. And remember: if a piece of Murano sounds too cheap to buy, it’s more than likely to be fake because even a small 5" vase can often cost hundreds of pounds.
