Murano Candy Dish

Q: I bought this red decanter from my great aunt a while back. There’s a sticker on it that says “Murano Glass, 24 KT gold plated, made in Italy,” Can you tell me it’s value?

A: Glass has been made on Murano, an island in the Venice Lagoon, since 1291. Murano glass made in the twentieth century was often marked only with an adhesive label. Souvenir shops in Venice sometimes sold Eastern European glass with Murano labels in the 1950s. Since 1981, the name “Murano” can only be used on glass actually made on Murano. You have a candy dish, not a decanter. (A decanter is used to store and pour drinks.) Pieces of Murano glass designed by well-known makers sell for a few hundred dollars to over $1,000. It’s not possible to tell who made your candy jar. Most candy jars like yours with 24 karat gold paint, and by an unknown maker, sell for $20 to about $60.