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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing 1989-2024
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Recover Gold from Vintage Italian Murano Gold Infused Lamp
Q. This was my grandmother's Murano lamp. I believe Murano did use actual precious metals. It is a large lamp (glass area is 22 x 8 x 8" at the widest part of the base.
Is there a good recovery process that would result in financial gain?
- Warrenton Virginia
December 2, 2023
Ed. note: We didn't receive a pic. If you have one, please attach it to an email to mooney@finishing.com
A. Hi Lynene, my understanding is that Murano is not a brand name but an area (an Italian island) known for its glass, much like Bourbon whiskey is generally whiskey from Bourbon County in Kentucky. So there may not be 'standard' ways such lamps were made. Further, I don't know what 'infused' means quantitatively, and doubt that it has any quantitative meaning -- it probably just means gold was used in it in some way, perhaps it's gold plated or perhaps there are gold patterns fired on the glass.
Generally the practicality of recovering such gold is iffy at best, but surely impractical on a onesy-twosy scale. If you don't want the lamp, I suggest that you try to find a buyer -- it may well be worth something, maybe even a lot.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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