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lundi 25 septembre 2017

If You Love Vintage Glassware Collectibles You Should Know What To Look For

By Angela Miller


Collecting old glass pieces is something many individuals enjoy. Interesting examples of the most popular styles and genres are pretty easy to find in vintage and antique stores throughout the country. Most enthusiasts are able to participate in this activity because of the affordability and petite size of the glassware. The vintage glassware collectibles listed below are examples of the most iconic genres.

You may decide you love several different kinds of glass and want to collect some of all or specialize in certain genres. Either way, you should know something about old glass before you invest in it. The art of cut glass goes back almost two thousand years, and to the beginnings of glass blowing itself. Designs are created with the use of a grinding wheel that cuts patterns and designs into pieces of cooled glass.

During the American Brilliant period, entertaining with large pieces of pressed leaded glass, with intricate designs and patterns, was a sign of wealth and prestige. This was at the turn of the twentieth century. The period came to an end with the Depression when manufacturers began churning out inexpensive versions of the earlier Brilliant period pressed glass.

In the early twentieth century, the Europeans got into the market with even cheaper pressed glass. American manufacturing suffered until the Great Depression when, the now famous, Depression glass went into production. The manufacturing was so prolific that the Ohio firm, most noted for producing the glass, could turn a profit even selling the pieces for pennies apiece.

Many depression era Americans dreamed about owning the beautiful lamps Louis Comfort Tiffany was creating in New York. These art works might have been out of their reach, but smart manufacturers replicated his glass pieces with a cheap version offered to winners of carnival midway contests. Carnival glass was enormously popular, and the competition for market shares was intense. One result of this competition was glassware that glowed under UV light.

Milk glass has a very distinctive look and style which makes it stand out in antique and vintage shops. The original glass is not native to America. It was first manufactured in Venice in the seventeenth century. The British put out popular products during the Victorian Era. Milk glass can come in several colors including white, pink, blue, black, brown, and yellow.

Almost all glass is fragile, and old pieces are even more so. When they need to be cleaned, the dishwasher is not the place for them. The high temperatures can crack them and damage the designs. Hand washing with mild detergent and drying with a soft cloth is the best way to safely clean them.

Collecting glass can be a fun pastime. You don't have to pay a fortune for interesting and attractive pieces. Most glass objects are small enough to fit in curio cabinets or onto sunny shelves. These collections often stay in families for generations.




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