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.

Plum Blossom
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 "Plum Blossom, Made in China".

Reference: [click here].

LABELLED Chinese Vintage Red Cased Glass 'Plum Blossom' Vase

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

Chinese Vintage Blue Cased Glass 'Plum Blossom' Vase

A blue glass "Plum Blossom" vase with applied flower decoration and internal white casing.

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].

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

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

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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As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.


Reference Websites

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