Murano glass is surprisingly durable — we regularly sell lamps from the 60s that look almost new. But there are a few things that can go wrong, and that you can easily avoid.
Cleaning
Never use the dishwasher. Ever. Murano glass can't handle the high heat plus harsh detergent. Colours can go matt, and decals/labels disappear.
Instead: - Lukewarm water with a small amount of mild dish soap. - A soft cloth — microfibre is good. - Dry immediately with a dry cloth, to avoid limescale spots. - For corners and inner curves: a soft baby hair brush.
For lamps: take them down, remove the bulb, and separate the glass parts if possible. Wash each part on its own.
Wiring
Vintage lamps often come with original wiring from the 60s-70s. They're not necessarily dangerous, but they're old. Signs that a cord needs replacing: - Stiff, brittle insulation - Visible cracks or exposed copper - Warm when the lamp is on
If in doubt, have an electrician look at it. It typically costs €40-70 to have a cord replaced — small money compared to a lamp worth several hundred.
On most lamps we sell, the wiring has been checked or replaced — we always note it in the product description.
Bulbs
LED is fine. Use something with warm light (2700K or lower) — otherwise the glass looks cold and wrong. Max 40W (or LED equivalent), especially in closed plafonds where the heat can't escape.
Never halogen in closed glass lamps. Too hot.
Storage and moving
If the lamp needs to be packed away: take it apart, wrap each glass part in soft cloth or bubble wrap, and pack the base separately. Glass-on-glass in a moving box is a sure way to get scratches.
When it goes wrong
If a shade cracks, stop using the lamp — even if it looks fine from outside. A cracked shade can break suddenly. Email us at butik@farveladeland.com if you want to try to find a replacement shade. We often have loose parts lying around from lamps where one part got broken.
