Art Glass Frog Paperweight

OK, Susan. Thank you for reminding me to be careful. I scrolled through other items they have for sale and was not impressed with descriptions, but I would rate them as average. Couldn't compare prices because I didn't find any comparables. I would not certify every "Murano" piece is from the island, and don't always refer friends to places who seem to have every item on sale. My first Murano piece was purchased in NYC for $12.50, but that was 1950s.

That's always been a question for which I've not found the answer. We appear to agree on "Murano" Glass. But has anyone found a Murano piece with a specific maker ID? Are all Murano glass artisans producing very similar pieces? All one hundred plus of them? Or is The Cottage Shop (link above in Susan's Post) correct with IDs on all their Murano pieces?

 

I can see your reluctance to outright call it Murano but I think if you add up all the components of that piece

Controlled Bubble
Aventurine
Polished Pontil
Whimsical for the tourist trade

It tends to point a little more strongly towards Italian in origin. Murano? Possibly, Italian? Probably

 

Sorry, I didn't make it clear. I accept Murano on that blob some call a frog.
My comment on "not all Murano" referred to site Susan linked. If you search their others under Murano you will agree.
It's possible they're all Murano without that whimsy we're accustomed to.

Also, as you have guessed, I had difficulty in even agreeing it was maybe a frog. But I did think the yellow/gold ovals were above the glass, not interior bubbles. Maybe are, though I didn't recognize as such. The pontil I dont' think is polished flat, but definitely worked on. Aventurine? Yes.

I doubt I'll make a trip to Murano. Never did get to Venice.
First time I've even researched, interesting - "Murano Island - A Glassmaker's Paradise Since 1291, this tiny Venetian island has been the home of Venice's glassmaking industry. Glass production was moved to Murano Island from the main part of Venice because its production posed quite a fire hazard.

• Murano is a series of islands linked by bridges in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy. It lies about 1.5 kilometres north of Venice and measures about 1.5 km across with a population of just over 5,000. It is famous for its glass making. It was once an independent commune, but is now a frazione of the commune of Venice.

Murano is only a few minutes from central Venice by public waterbus.

But if I ever do/did I'd probably need a separate boat to bring my buys home.

 

"Murano glass" refers to glass made in Murano, Italy that artisans and manufacturers purchase to make their items. So an item can consist of Murano glass, but actually be made anywhere.

I've collected and sold a lot of authentic Venetian glass beads, made from Murano glass in Italy. I've also bought some "Murano" glass beads and pendants that were made in China and some beads that look like Murano glass but were made in India. The Chinese sellers don't qualify their ads... they just call the items "Murano" because the glass came from there.

I know a lot more about beads than about figurines, but IMHO, this one looks like it could be Murano glass... but without seeing a label, maker's mark, or an ad from a site I trusted, I'd remain somewhat skeptical that it was made in Italy.

 

Sorry, Pat, but you really lost me there. I have never heard of any factory "making glass." The main ingredient of glass is sand - silica - with other ingredients added for different reasons - reduce melting temps, strength, coloring, etc. But perhaps 90% sand.
I do believe that no one ever mixed those ingredients, melted them at 1,000 to 3,000 centigrade, poured the results in a vat, let it solidify and shipped it off to someone who was going to put it in their own oven/kiln, re-melt it and make items with the results. Weight alone would make that uneconomical. Can you imagine the weight of a 50 gallon drum filled with sand, melted or not?

The trademark "Murano" can be used only for items made on the island of Murano or, in a few cases, companies on the island of Venice.

There are relatively recent - 1990s - laws reinforcing and further restricting the use of the name Murano. What you were accustomed to prior to then may no longer be possible.

http://www.muranoglass.com/en/#.VgFkdMuFO00

http://www.muranoglass.com/en/trademark/guide/

And while looking up those I came across sites concerning number of glass companies on the island. Depending on how they are classified, it's between 22 and 50 +_. The 22 are those who have a registered address on Murano plus a website, telephone, etc.

 

Susan - I would say that the Murano knowledge of that linked web site is suspect. On the same page they showed a "Murano" glass bag with a goldfish inside. I thought that all of those fish on the inside items were made in China.

 

TheOLdGuy, I was referring to glass rods/canes made in Murano and sold from there as supplies that glassblowers incorporate into making beads and other items.

I still see the rods for sale, so it's possible the newer laws don't prevent them from being sold or being called "Murano," or items made from these rods being called "Murano."

 

Well, Google is my favorite and longest used search engine. I remember in the mid 1990s when someone told me to Google my own name. Interesting!! Very!! There were twelve hits.One was actually me. With a picture. It might even still be there, BUT, now there are 12,500,000 results. A nice rounded off figure.

Yes, Pat. I see what you meant by Murano Glass. There is one particular Murano glass maker selling rods for hundreds of uses. Appears he/she invented some method to produce spectacular colors a few hundred years ago. Those are sold to numerous companies around the world for various end products.

Only problem is that there are many sites concerning that manufacturer and most state that it is the ONLY glass maker on Murano. Contradicting other, more authoritative ones that name, and link to 22 firms with there own glass making furnaces. Plus the one mentioning that Venice "kicked out" all glass makers many, many years ago. Sending them to the 9 sq. mile island of Murano. That was due to the fear of a glass company catching fire. If you are familiar with glass companies, such as in USA you will know that is a very common occurrence. That article

Here's another site rendering what I accept as correct concerning Murano.

http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/Murano-Art-Glass-is-it-fake-or-real-/10000000177884802/g.html