Who determines the price of Murano glass?
Peter Grünbaum, art dealer and passionate collector, explains how the price of Murano glass vases is determined and which factors play a role.
Peter Grünbaum resides in a stately 300 m² loft, in one of Zurich's best locations. But not all of it is used as living space. A large portion houses one of the largest Murano glass collections in the world. Until a few years ago, he still had gallery space for this, but then decided to house his unique collection in his private rooms. He is a lover of classical music and jazz, began learning the piano at the age of 65, and devotes much of his time to the "fine arts." This, however, does not preclude him from being one of the largest collectors and dealers of Murano glass vases.
In keeping with the times, most sales are conducted online via his website https://1000-objekte.ch/ . However, he prefers to meet "like-minded people" in person, show them his extensive collection, and see the passion for collecting in their eyes. Looking at the prices of the objects, we wanted to know how these prices are actually determined and who ultimately determines them.
Pricing – A Difficult Matter Of course, this question is not easy to answer, as it depends on countless factors. It is clear that the price at a flea market is different than at an auction at Christie's. But it is also clear that in the age of eBay and the like, it is almost impossible to find true rarities on the open market. Grünbaum's collection is also limited to the "golden" years of Murano glass: the 1930s to 1960s, but only in exceptional cases after 1975, because from then on, Murano glass was produced in much larger quantities. This is one of the many factors that determine the price: the number of objects produced. Another factor is how many of these pieces are still available on the global market. The most important factor is the artist themselves: their level of fame, how long they worked, which technique they used, did they use a rare color, etc. The list goes on and on. The type of sale also has an influence. Does the vase come from a private individual, a gallery, or is it purchased at auction? The "COPPA DELLE MANI" bowl by Tomaso Buzzi, for example, sold for approximately €300,000 at Christie's in 2019. It costs €65,000 at Grünbaum. At auctions, so-called "bidding fever" quickly sets in, which can drive the price to incredible heights.
Peter Grünbaum sees himself as roughly mid-range in terms of price. He owns exceptionally rare pieces. His website catalog lists Murano glass objects ranging from €2,600 to €65,000. He is also authorized to provide appraisals of Murano glass and has written an English e-book about collecting Murano, which readers can order free of charge. We're certain of one thing: If you visit him in person, look him in the eye, and gain his trust, there's bound to be some room for negotiation.
E-book :
Rare Murano Glass
Book an Appointment
Videos about Murano Glass
In keeping with the times, most sales are conducted online via his website https://1000-objekte.ch/ . However, he prefers to meet "like-minded people" in person, show them his extensive collection, and see the passion for collecting in their eyes. Looking at the prices of the objects, we wanted to know how these prices are actually determined and who ultimately determines them.
Pricing – A Difficult Matter Of course, this question is not easy to answer, as it depends on countless factors. It is clear that the price at a flea market is different than at an auction at Christie's. But it is also clear that in the age of eBay and the like, it is almost impossible to find true rarities on the open market. Grünbaum's collection is also limited to the "golden" years of Murano glass: the 1930s to 1960s, but only in exceptional cases after 1975, because from then on, Murano glass was produced in much larger quantities. This is one of the many factors that determine the price: the number of objects produced. Another factor is how many of these pieces are still available on the global market. The most important factor is the artist themselves: their level of fame, how long they worked, which technique they used, did they use a rare color, etc. The list goes on and on. The type of sale also has an influence. Does the vase come from a private individual, a gallery, or is it purchased at auction? The "COPPA DELLE MANI" bowl by Tomaso Buzzi, for example, sold for approximately €300,000 at Christie's in 2019. It costs €65,000 at Grünbaum. At auctions, so-called "bidding fever" quickly sets in, which can drive the price to incredible heights.
Peter Grünbaum sees himself as roughly mid-range in terms of price. He owns exceptionally rare pieces. His website catalog lists Murano glass objects ranging from €2,600 to €65,000. He is also authorized to provide appraisals of Murano glass and has written an English e-book about collecting Murano, which readers can order free of charge. We're certain of one thing: If you visit him in person, look him in the eye, and gain his trust, there's bound to be some room for negotiation.
E-book :
Rare Murano Glass
Book an Appointment
Videos about Murano Glass