Murano Glass Chandeliers: What to Know Before You Buy
A Murano glass chandelier is a chandelier whose arms, cups, flowers and leaves are blown and shaped by hand from glass on the island of Murano, in Venice, then assembled around a metal frame. No two are exactly alike, and a large one can hold hundreds of separate pieces of glass.
This guide explains how they are made, the main styles, what they cost, how to choose the size, what to check before buying a used or antique chandelier, and how to look after one for generations.
A Short History of the Murano Chandelier
Murano's glassmakers had been making lamps and lanterns for centuries when, in the eighteenth century, the glassmaker Giuseppe Briati created the chandelier that made Venice famous: the ciocca, or bouquet, a cascade of curved glass arms covered in flowers, leaves and fruit. One of the finest still hangs in Ca' Rezzonico, the palace on the Grand Canal, and the style has been called Rezzonico ever since.
Through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the furnaces of Murano kept the classic forms alive and added new ones: simpler arms, bolder colours, modern shapes. Today a Murano chandelier can be as traditional or as contemporary as the room it is made for.
The Anatomy of a Murano Chandelier
- The column. The central stem, usually a stack of blown glass elements around a metal rod.
- The arms. Curved glass tubes that carry the lights, each one bent by hand while the glass is hot.
- The cups and bobeches. The small dishes under each light, which catch the drips of old candles and the light of new bulbs.
- The decoration. Flowers, leaves, ribbons and pendants, shaped one by one and fixed to the frame.
On a genuine Murano chandelier every one of these elements is made by hand, so each piece varies slightly from the next. That small irregularity is the signature of the craft.
How a Murano Chandelier Is Made
Each element is gathered from the furnace, blown or drawn, shaped with iron tools and then cooled slowly in an annealing oven, so that the glass does not crack later. The arms must match one another in curve and colour; the flowers are spread by eye so the chandelier looks balanced from every side. The whole piece is then assembled, wired and checked before it is taken apart again for shipping.
Our chandeliers are made to order in Murano. Most take about four weeks to make, and each one is shipped insured, with every element packed separately.
The Main Styles of Murano Chandeliers
Rezzonico
The grand Venetian form: arms set in two or more tiers, rich in flowers and leaves, often written as 6+3 or 8+4, meaning six or eight arms below and three or four above. It suits high ceilings, salons and entrance halls.
Classic floral
One ring of curved arms, crowned with flowers and leaves: the chandelier most people picture when they think of Venice. Six or eight lights suit a dining room, a living room or a bedroom.
Contemporary
The same Venetian forms in modern colours: black and white, black and red, smoky grey. They bring the craft into minimal and design-led interiors without looking out of place.
Coloured and made to order
Because every chandelier is made to order, colour is open: crystal, amber, gold, red, blue, pink or several colours together, and often a different size as well.
How Much Does a Murano Chandelier Cost?
The price follows the number of lights, the size and the amount of decoration. In our collection, in October 2026:
- Five or six lights: from €4,500 to €13,800, most around €7,000.
- Eight or nine lights: from €6,490 to €26,800, most around €9,000.
- Twelve lights: from €10,400 to €38,900.
- Eighteen to twenty-four lights: from €17,900 to €48,900.
A Rezzonico costs more than a classic chandelier with the same number of lights, because it carries far more hand-made flowers and leaves. "Murano-style" chandeliers sold for a few hundred euros are made with moulded glass and plastic parts; they are not Murano glass. Our guide to Murano glass prices and value explains what drives the price of any Murano piece.
How to Choose the Right Size
- Diameter. Add the length and width of the room in metres; the sum, read in centimetres, is a good diameter. A room of 5 × 4 metres takes a chandelier of about 90 cm.
- Over a dining table. Choose a diameter of one half to two thirds of the table's width, and leave 75 to 85 cm between the table and the lowest glass.
- Height. Allow about 7 to 8 cm of chandelier for every 30 cm of ceiling height. Where people walk underneath, keep the lowest point at least 2.10 metres from the floor.
- Style and space. A high ceiling can carry a full Rezzonico; a lower room looks best with a single ring of arms.
Most of our chandeliers come in two or three sizes, and they can also be made to measure: ask us for a bespoke quote.
What size of chandelier suits your room?
- Diameter
- ≈ 90 cm
- Chandelier height
- 70–80 cm
- Over the table
These are the interior designers' guidelines explained above. Every room is different: a made-to-measure chandelier can be built to your exact dimensions.
Used, Vintage or Antique Murano Chandeliers
Many people look for a second-hand Murano chandelier. It can be a good buy, but check these points before you pay:
- Completeness. Ask for a photo of every element laid out on a table, and count the arms, cups, flowers and leaves. Missing pieces are the most common problem.
- Breakages and repairs. Glued or chipped elements lower the value and can fail later.
- Wiring. An old chandelier usually needs new wiring to meet today's safety rules, and in North America new sockets as well.
- Origin. Many second-hand "Murano" chandeliers are imports with moulded flowers and plastic sleeves. The signs are explained in the next section.
- Shipping. A chandelier must travel taken apart, every element wrapped on its own; many used pieces are damaged in transit.
"Vintage" usually means a chandelier from the 1950s to the 1980s; true antiques from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are rare and are priced at auction. Missing or broken elements can often be made again by a Murano workshop, though matching an old colour exactly is not always possible. Send us photos and measurements and we will tell you whether it can be done. A new chandelier made to order costs more, but it arrives complete, in the size and colour you choose, with a certificate of authenticity.
How to Recognise an Authentic Murano Chandelier
- Hand-made elements. Arms and flowers show small differences and tiny bubbles; perfectly identical parts suggest moulded glass.
- Real glass everywhere. Plastic sleeves, painted metal leaves or acrylic drops are a sign of an imitation.
- Weight. A genuine Murano chandelier is heavy for its size, because almost everything you see is glass.
- Paperwork. The seller should name the maker and give you a certificate of authenticity.
Our guide on how to recognise authentic Murano glass covers the general signs. If you own a chandelier and want a second opinion, our Murano glass authentication opinion looks at your photos and tells you what we see; it is an opinion on authenticity and origin, not a valuation.
Caring for Your Murano Chandelier
Dust the chandelier lightly every month or two with a soft, dry brush or cloth. Once a year, switch it off, let the bulbs cool, and wipe each element with a cloth barely dampened with water and a drop of mild soap, then dry it at once. Never spray anything directly onto the chandelier: liquid must not reach the sockets or the wiring. For a full clean, photograph the chandelier from several sides, take the elements off one by one, wash them by hand and put them back following your photos. Our Murano glass care guide has more.
Installation: Weight, Bulbs and Wiring
A Murano chandelier can weigh tens of kilos, so the ceiling fixing must be rated for its weight. Have it wired and assembled by a qualified electrician; our guide on how to mount a chandelier explains how the pieces fit together. Most Murano chandeliers take small E14 bulbs: warm LED bulbs give the same golden light with very little heat, which is kinder to the glass. Tell us your country before you order and we will advise on the wiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Murano glass chandelier cost?
In our collection, from about €4,500 for a small six-light chandelier to €48,900 for a large Rezzonico with twenty-four lights. Most six- and eight-light chandeliers cost between €6,000 and €10,000.
Why are Murano glass chandeliers so expensive?
Because every arm, cup and flower is shaped by hand, and a large chandelier holds hundreds of them. It takes weeks of skilled work at the furnace and at the bench.
Can a Murano chandelier be made in a different colour or size?
Yes. Our chandeliers are made to order, so the colour and often the size can be adapted; ask us for a bespoke quote.
How long does it take to make a Murano chandelier?
Most of our chandeliers are made in about four weeks, then shipped insured, with every element packed separately.
Is it worth buying a used Murano chandelier?
It can be, if it is complete, genuine and can be rewired safely. Count every element before you buy, and remember that restoration and shipping add to the price.
Are Murano chandeliers suitable for modern interiors?
Yes. A single ring of arms in black, white, smoky grey or one strong colour sits well in a contemporary room.
Crown Your Room With Venetian Light
A Murano chandelier is the piece a room is remembered for. Every chandelier we sell is made by hand in Murano and comes with a certificate of authenticity, insured shipping and free delivery across the European Union. Explore our Murano glass chandeliers, the whole Murano glass lighting collection, or ask for a chandelier made to measure.
The atmosphere photographs in this article are illustrations created with artificial intelligence; the product photographs show real pieces from our collection.
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