Since centuries people from all over the world tried to steal the ancient art of Murano glass blowing with less success. The art of making Murano glass is deeply woven into the families of glass blowers living in the island of Murano. These Muranese families are the guardians of the ancient techniques of Murano glass blowing. The secret art of Murano glass creation is passed down from generation to generation within the family. Little kids as young as 12 years old are joining their fathers and grandfathers in the furnace to help them and learn the art of glass blowing. Thus, the ancient secrets and valuable knowledge cannot get in the wrong hands.
What is Murano Glass?
When people talk about Italian art glass or Venetian art glass, they are usually referring to the sculptures, vases, chandeliers and decorative glass objects made in the island of Murano, Italy. Murano is a small island in the lagoon of Venice, where the art of glassmaking has more than 1000 years of tradition. Only glassworks made in the island of Murano can be marketed as Murano glass artworks.
Unfortunately, there are many counterfeit Murano glassworks on the market. These glassworks were not produced in the island of Murano, yet they are marketed as ‘Murano Style’ glassworks to deceive customers. The good news is that once you know the main characteristics of genuine Murano glass, you will be able to judge if the artwork is real or not.
How to identify real Murano Glass?
We at MuranoGlassItaly are passionate about Murano glass and want to help the Muranese families to preserve their traditions. That is why we asked five of our Muranese glass masters to share with us how to identify their artworks. Please, find below the Top 4 characteristics that you need to be aware of when buying Murano glassworks.
1. Look for imperfections
Real Murano glass is handmade, which inherently results in small imperfections. Such imperfections could be for example air bubbles or the Pontil mark:
A. Air bubbles
When the multi-color layering technique is used, the glass master blows the different colored glass separately and then layers them on top of each other. During this process, it is inevitable that small air bubbles are created. In order to avoid bubbles and have clear glass, in locations far from Venice and Italy they use the Lead in the composition. This is a dangerous metal that is not part of the Murano Glass tradition. Using Lead is forbidden in Murano and a crystal which is not 100% clear, is a true sign of authenticity.
B. Pontil mark
Another small imperfection is the Pontil mark. The Pontil mark is a scar that was left behind when the glass master broke the Pontil rod of the finished blown Murano glasswork. The Pontil mark can be found on the bottom of a hand-blown artwork. Touch it with your finger and you can feel that the surface of the Pontil mark is not smooth.
2. Look for proof of origin
Remember that genuine Murano glassworks are only produced in the island of Murano, Italy. Murano is not a brand name, it is a physical location. Based on the signature of the glass master and/or certificate of authenticity you can identify the origin of the glasswork.
A. Signature of the Murano glass master
Look for the signature of the glass master on the artwork. Then go online and check if the glass master is indeed located in Murano, Italy. Furthermore, to make sure that the signature is original, compare it with the signature of the glass master displayed online.
B. Paper Based Sticker – Certificate of Origin (Old Fashion)
One traditional way to verify Murano glass authenticity is by locating the certificate of origin sticker on the piece. This sticker typically certifies that the artwork was created on the island of Murano, Italy. You may notice multiple stickers on a single piece, as various furnaces issue their own certifications.
Pay particular attention to the artist’s or furnace’s sticker, which should display either the artist’s name or the name of the studio. You can often verify its authenticity by:
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Searching online for the artist or atelier to confirm their Murano location.
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Comparing the sticker on your artwork with verified images published on their official website (if available).
⚠️ Important Note:
This method is primarily valid for older creations, as paper-based stickers are easily forged. Due to the growing issue of counterfeit Murano glass, the presence of a sticker alone does not guarantee authenticity — especially for artworks produced after 2024.
C. Digital Certificate of Origin based on Non-Fungible Token (NFT)
Look for a digital certificate which includes a unique NFT code based on block chain technology.
This certificate should include:
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A unique NFT code (a digital fingerprint tied to one specific piece),
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The name and image of the artwork, and
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Authentication data permanently recorded in the blockchain—a decentralized, tamper-proof network used in cryptocurrency and digital asset verification.
Each certificate is minted only once, and is inseparably linked to a single, original work of art.
✅ Best assurance of authenticity:
Unlike traditional stickers or paper certificates, NFT-based certificates cannot be forged or duplicated. Each NFT is as unique as the Murano glass artwork it represents, giving collectors and buyers maximum assurance of authenticity and provenance.
3. Look for high quality
A. Striking colors
Murano glass blowers are the masters of layering the different colors of the molten glass, which technique is easily identifiable and difficult to replicate with high quality
B. 24-karat gold or 925 silver infusion
Murano glass masters are also famous for infusing their masterpieces with 24-karat gold or 925 silver. Silver and gold infusion is a special technique that is difficult to copy not to mention that quality raw materials are expensive, which makes replication hard.
4. Buy from a trusted source
A. Visit the island of Murano
Visit the beautiful island of Murano and see how Murano glass is created. Purchase beautiful artwork on the island from a trusted dealer, who guarantees the origin of the glasswork. Ensure that the origin is guaranteed with a certificated of authenticity based on Non-Fungible Token (NFT) which is unique for the artwork and it cannot be forged.
B. Buy from a trusted online shop
All artworks displayed in our MuranoGlassItaly Shop are certified Murano glassworks. Our furnace and artists are located on the island of Murano, Italy. Origin is guaranteed.
