These Glass Kitchen Items Are A Thrifter's Best-Kept Secret You'll Want To Know About

Getting your hands on a beautiful piece of furniture or home decor at the thrift store can feel incredibly satisfying. Maybe you are on the hunt for specific electronics worth watching for when thrifting or wandering around the home goods section and allowing vintage photo frames to draw you in. When it comes to thrifting glassware, though, you may want to keep your eyes peeled for Murano glass, a particularly lavish piece of art that adds a stunning elegance to your kitchen and beyond.

From drinking glasses to goblets to a once-popular glass chandelier, Murano glass can come in different shapes, colors, and uses. Authentic Murano glasses are highly sought after. A set of vintage wine glasses can go for hundreds of dollars on resale sites like eBay, making them a perfect collectible item or great for impressing your guests at dinner parties. So, what is so special about Murano glass?

Originating in the 13th century in the Venetian island of Murano, Murano glass is a type of art glassware made by using specialized ancient glass-blowing techniques. These delicate glasses are revered for their rich colors, intricate patterns, and artistic and cultural significance. Their gorgeous, vibrant designs are only part of what separates it from other types of glass. The unparalleled craftsmanship using centuries-old techniques adds incredible value and striking appeal to Murano glass, making it a unique and elegant addition to any home.

Prices for an authentic Murano glass piece can vary, but their appraised value can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars based on a number of factors. The technique used, such as Filigrana and Millefiori, the master of the piece, and when it was created, can increase the value of a Murano glass antique. If you're curating Venetian decor, these stunning glasses are going to be a great addition to it. You may even find yourself holding a truly valuable antique at your local thrift store, if you're lucky. 

Between their timeless beauty and value, it makes sense why you would want to know how to spot an authentic Murano glass during your next visit to the thrift store. You'll want to check out the display cases at the thrift store before checking the glassware aisle. Genuine Murano glasses have unique and intricate designs and often come in vibrant colors. They may also be marked with engraved labels or other identifiers that they're made in Murano. If you can tell that the glass you are holding was made by hand and has imperfections like minor unevenness in texture or tiny bubbles, it might be authentic.

However, keep in mind that because of their historical significance and high appraisal, finding genuine Murano glass at the thrift store is rare. Plus, there are fakes in circulation, even if there is a label that indicates it's authentic, so don't rely solely on the markers. Compared to their counterfeits, which can be heavy and mass-produced, authentic Murano glasses are lighter and have more imperfections.