Chinese Glass Identification Guide + Gallery

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This section of the encyclopaedia is for Chinese glass, including glass made in Taiwan. There is a surprising amount of vintage glassware, found in the UK and elsewhere, that is often mistaken for Italian/Murano glass, or Scandinavian glass, but was in fact made in China. There is also a vast amount of modern glass produced in China, using popular Murano glassmaking techniques such as sommerso, which can easily be mistaken for, and sometimes purposefully misdescribed as, Murano glass. This Murano style, Chinese made glass used to be quite easy to spot to the experienced collector or dealer, as they contained many production flaws, and often certain features could give them away, such as a frosted, unpolished base, compared to the shiny, highly polished base found on most genuine Murano glass. However in more recent years, the quality of some of these items have improved greatly, and it can be very difficult to spot the difference. This guide aims to help with the identification of Chinese glass.

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Vintage Chinese Glass

Shown here is glassware made in China that I would class as vintage, i.e. made before the year 2000. Most of these are likely from the mid-century / retro era, 1950's - 1970's.

LABELLED Chinese 'Lotus Flower / Snowflake' Vase by Dalian Glass Co

A white glass "Lotus Flower" vase with dark red and orange swirls, made in China, by The Dalian Glass Co. Ltd, circa 1950's - 1980's, labelled.

Reference: [click here].

LABELLED Chinese 'Lotus Flower / Snowflake' Vase by Dalian Glass Co

Red & silver foil label used by The Dalian Glass Co. Ltd, reads "Lotus Flower, Made in China". The same or a very similar range can be found with labels that read "Snowflakes, Made in China".

LABELLED Chinese 'Lotus Flower / Snowflake' Vase by Dalian Glass Co

A white glass "Lotus Flower" vase with dark red and orange swirls, made in China, by The Dalian Glass Co. Ltd, circa 1950's - 1980's, labelled.

Chinese 'Lotus Flower / Snowflakes' Stem Vase by Dalian Glass Co

A white glass "Lotus Flower" or "Snowflakes" cylinder vase with dark blue and orange swirls, made in China, by The Dalian Glass Co. Ltd, circa 1950's - 1980's.

LABELLED Chinese Vintage Orange Cased Glass 'Plum Blossom' Vase

An orange glass "Plum Blossom" vase with applied flower decoration and internal white casing. Made in China, circa 1970's, labelled.

Reference: [click here].

LABELLED Chinese Vintage Orange Cased Glass 'Plum Blossom' Vase

Red & silver foil label reads "Plum Blossom, Made in China".

Chinese Vintage 1970's Green Retro Cased Glass 'Bamboo' Vase

A green glass "Plum Blossom" bamboo shaped hooped vase with internal white casing. Made in China, circa 1970's.

Reference: [click here].

Pair of Taiwanese Orange & White Striped Glass Vases

A pair of orange and white striped glass vases with applied clear decoration. Can be found with labels that read "Made in Taiwan, Republic of China". Often mistaken for Murano or Czech glass.

Reference: [click here].

LABELLED Chinese Blue & Clear Glass Basket by Crystal Brand

A blue and clear glass basket shaped sculpture bowl or vase. Made in China, sold by Crystal Brand, labelled. From the style and label I would estimate the date at circa 1970's.

LABELLED Chinese Blue & Clear Glass Basket by Crystal Brand

Red & gold foil label reads "Crystal Brand, Made in China".

Crystal Brand Retro Chinese Red & Clear Glass Basket

A red and clear glass basket shaped sculpture bowl or vase. Made in China, sold by Crystal Brand.

Crystal Brand Vintage Chinese Red & Clear Glass Basket

A red and clear glass basket shaped sculpture bowl or vase. Made in China, sold by Crystal Brand.


Modern Chinese Glass

Shown here is glassware made in China in more recent, modern times, i.e. after the year 2000. Many of the items listed here can be found, or at one time could be found, on the Chinese trade website alibaba.com. We may refer to these listings where possible to confirm Chinese origin, but please note these links may become broken over time as listings on the Alibaba site are ended, or products are discontinued.

Chinese Murano Style Green & Blue Sommerso Glass Vase

A blue, green and clear sommerso glass vase with applied green lobed sides, and controlled bubble bullicante effect. Made in China, and was originally sold in Debhenams stores under the brand name "Star", by designer Julien Macdonald.

Reference: [click here].

Chinese Murano Style Green & Blue Sommerso Glass Bowl

A blue, green and clear sommerso glass bowl or candle holder with controlled bubble bullicante effect. Made in China, and was originally sold in Debhenams stores under the brand name "Star", by designer Julien Macdonald. Marked and labelled.

Chinese Murano Style Green & Blue Sommerso Glass Bowl

"Star by Julien Macdonald" marking, and "Made in China" plastic label.

Chinese / Shudehill Blue & Amber Sommerso Glass Bird Sculpture

A blue and amber sommerso glass bird sculpture. Made in China, sold and labelled by Shudehill Giftware.

Chinese Murano Style Purple & Blue Sommerso Glass Vase

A blue, purple and clear sommerso glass vase with applied clear lobed sides, and controlled bubble bullicante effect. Made in China, and was originally sold in Debhenams stores under the brand name "Star", by designer Julien Macdonald.

Reference: [click here].

Chinese Murano Style Purple & Blue Sommerso Glass Bowl

A blue, purple and clear sommerso glass bowl or candle holder with controlled bubble bullicante effect. Made in China, and was originally sold in Debhenams stores under the brand name "Star", by designer Julien Macdonald.

Chinese Fumato Smoky Glass Chicken Sculpture - Labelled

A black, grey and clear bubbly fumato glass chicken sculpture. Made in China, still bears the "Made in China" import label, and the dull frosted base finish is typical of Chinese production.

Chinese Fumato Smoky Glass Chicken Sculpture - Labelled

"Made in China" import label.

BOXED & MARKED Xia Shi Liu Li Chinese Glass Pâte de Verre Dragon Sculpture

A blue, green and amber "pâte de verre" / "liuli" style glass Chinese dragon sculpture. Made in China, by Xia Shi Liu Li, signed and boxed, with leaflet.

BOXED & MARKED Xia Shi Liu Li Chinese Glass Pâte de Verre Dragon Sculpture

Signed in Chinese writing.

BOXED & MARKED Xia Shi Liu Li Chinese Glass Pâte de Verre Dragon Sculpture

Xia Shi Liu Li company logo on presentation box.

BOXED & MARKED Xia Shi Liu Li Chinese Glass Pâte de Verre Dragon Sculpture

Dragon shown with Xia Shi Liu Li presentation box and leaflet.

Murano Style Chinese Turquoise & Clear Glass Abstract Sculpture

A turquoise and clear glass abstract sculpture. Made in China, unmarked, but these can be found with "Made in China" labels. Sculptures like these can be found in many different colours on the Alibaba trade website.

Reference: [click here].

Murano Style Chinese Red, Amber & Clear Glass Abstract Sculpture

A red, amber and clear glass abstract sculpture. Made in China, unmarked.

Murano Style Chinese Purple & Clear Glass Abstract Sculpture

A dark purple and clear glass abstract sculpture. Made in China, unmarked.

Murano Style Chinese Large Amber & Clear Glass Abstract Sculpture

A large amber and clear glass abstract sculpture. Probably made in China, unmarked.

Chinese Murano Style Purple & Amber Sommerso Glass Teardrop Paperweight

A purple and amber sommerso glass teardrop shaped paperweight. Made in China, the teardrop shape and sommerso style is typical of Chinese production. These can be found in many different colours on the Alibaba trade website. The shiny, polished base suggests more recent production than others with a dull, frosted base.

Reference: [click here].

Chinese Murano Style Pink & Blue Sommerso Glass Teardrop Paperweight

A pink and blue sommerso glass teardrop shaped paperweight. Made in China, the teardrop shape, sommerso style and dull, frosted base finish is typical of Chinese production. These can be found in many different colours on the Alibaba trade website.

Reference: [click here].

Chinese Murano Style Pink Sommerso Glass Teardrop Sculpture

A pink and clear sommerso glass teardrop shaped paperweight, with encased bubbles and square glass base plinth. Made in China.

Chinese Green, Orange, Black & White Mottled Glass Teardrop Paperweight

An orange, green, black and white mottled glass teardrop shaped paperweight. Made in China, the teardrop shape, mottled pattern and dull, frosted base finish is typical of Chinese production. Items with the same mottle pattern can be found on the Alibaba trade website.

Fifth Avenue Chinese Purple & Blue Sommerso Faceted Glass Vase - Labelled

A purple, blue and clear faceted sommerso glass vase. Made in China, and sold by Fifth Avenue, a USA retailer / importer. Labelled, with original box and certificate.

Fifth Avenue Chinese Purple & Blue Sommerso Faceted Glass Vase - Labelled

Label reads "Fifth Avenue Crystal Ltd, Made in China".

Chinese Murano Style Green & Blue Sommerso Glass Bubble Paperweight

A green and blue sommerso glass paperweight with encased bubble. Made in China, the sommerso style and dull, frosted base finish is typical of Chinese production.

Chinese Murano Style Green & Blue Sommerso Glass Teardrop Paperweight

A green and blue sommerso glass paperweight. Made in China.

Chinese Murano Style Pink, Green & Blue Sommerso Glass Heart Paperweight

A pink, green and blue sommerso glass heart shaped paperweight. Made in China, the shape and sommerso style are typical of Chinese production. The shiny, polished base suggests more recent production than others with a dull, frosted base.

Crystal Clear Collectables Black & White Glass Dog Sculpture

A black and white striped glass dog sculpture. Made in China, and sold by Crystal Clear Collectables. Items from this range are very often accidentally or purposefully wrongly described as "designed by Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso".

Chinese Pink & Green Glass Flower Shaped Vase, Large & Heavy

A pink, green and clear glass vase, made in China. The same design can be found with a label that reads "Pier 1, China".

Reference: [click here].


View more Chinese Glass examples in our Glass Reference Database
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Chinese Glass on eBay UK

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Chinese Glass on eBay USA

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Reference Websites

www.glasspheme.com - Interesting article on Chinese made sommerso teardrop paperweights being sold as Murano.