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.
The Dalian Glass Co - Snowflakes & Lotus Flower
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 "Lotus Flower, Made in China".
Reference: [click here].
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.
A pale blue glass "Snowflakes" vase with dark blue and amber swirls, made in China, by The Dalian Glass Co. Ltd, circa 1950's - 1980's, labelled.
A pale blue glass "Lotus Flower" or "Snowflakes" vase with multicoloured swirls, made in China, by The Dalian Glass Co. Ltd, circa 1950's - 1980's.
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.
An orange glass "Lotus Flower" or "Snowflakes" vase with dark blue and brown swirls, made in China, by The Dalian Glass Co. Ltd, circa 1950's - 1980's.
Plum Blossom
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].
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".
A blue glass "Plum Blossom" vase with applied flower decoration and internal white casing.
A green glass "Plum Blossom" bamboo shaped hooped vase with internal white casing. Made in China, circa 1970's.
Reference: [click here].
A blue glass "Plum Blossom" bamboo shaped hooped vase with internal white casing. Made in China, circa 1970's.
Reference: [click here].
Crystal Brand
A blue and clear glass basket shaped sculpture bowl or vase. Made in China, sold by Crystal Brand. Labelled "Crystal Brand, Made in China". From the style and label I would estimate the date at circa 1970's.
A red and clear glass basket shaped sculpture bowl or vase. Made in China, sold by Crystal Brand.
A red and clear glass basket shaped sculpture bowl or vase. Made in China, sold by Crystal Brand.
A green and clear glass basket shaped sculpture bowl or vase. Made in China, sold by Crystal Brand.
Vertical Stripes
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].
Other Vintage Chinese Glass
A green textured glass decorative "Genie" bottle and matching glasses, with comical car design. Marked "Made in Taiwan" on the base of the glasses.
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.
Gilde Handwerk
A blue, green and yellow glass Picasso style face / head vase with applied features. Made in China, and marketed by Gilde Handwerk.
A red, green and yellow glass Picasso style face / head vase with applied features and controlled bubble pattern. Made in China, and marketed by Gilde Handwerk.
A green and blue glass Picasso style face / head vase with applied features and controlled bubble pattern. Made in China, and marketed by Gilde Handwerk.
A red and green glass Picasso style face / head vase with applied features and controlled bubble pattern. Made in China, and marketed by Gilde Handwerk.
A multicoloured glass Picasso style face / head vase with applied features. Made in China, and marketed by Gilde Handwerk.
A multicoloured glass Picasso style face / head vase with applied features. Made in China, and marketed by Gilde Handwerk.
A blue, green, yellow and cream glass Picasso style face / head vase with applied features. Made in China, and marketed by Gilde Handwerk.
A red and amber glass Picasso style face / head vase with applied features and bubbly pattern. Made in China, and marketed by Gilde Handwerk.
Debenhams "Star" Range by Julien Macdonald
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].
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 "Star by Julien Macdonald" and labelled "Made in China".
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].
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.
Fifth Avenue Crystal
A blue and clear sommerso glass vase with applied green lobed sides. Made in China, and imported by Fifth Avenue Crystal. Labelled "Fifth Avenue Crystal, Made in China".
A purple, blue and clear faceted sommerso glass vase. Made in China, and sold by Fifth Avenue, a USA retailer / importer. Labelled "Fifth Avenue Crystal Ltd, Made in China", with original box and certificate.
A blue, pink and clear faceted sommerso glass perfume bottle. Made in China, and sold by Fifth Avenue, a USA retailer / importer.
Reference: [click here].
Abstract Sculptures
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].
A red, amber and clear glass abstract sculpture. Made in China, unmarked.
A purple and clear glass abstract sculpture. Made in China, unmarked.
A dark purple and clear glass abstract sculpture. Made in China, unmarked.
A large red, amber and clear glass abstract sculpture. Made in China, labelled.
A large amber and clear glass abstract sculpture. Made in China, unmarked.
Sommerso Paperweights
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].
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].
A pink and clear sommerso glass teardrop shaped paperweight, with encased bubbles and square glass base plinth. Made in China.
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.
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.
A green and blue sommerso glass paperweight. Made in China.
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.
White Banded
A red glass vase with horizontal white bands. Made in China, labelled.
A purple glass vase with horizontal white bands. Made in China.
A green glass vase with horizontal white bands. Made in China.
Other Modern Chinese Glass
A blue and amber sommerso glass bird sculpture. Made in China, sold and labelled by Shudehill Giftware.
A blue sommerso glass whale or fish sculpture. Made in China.
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".
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.
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].
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.
View more Chinese Glass examples in our Glass Reference Database
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Reference Websites
www.glasspheme.com - Interesting article on Chinese made sommerso teardrop paperweights being sold as Murano.