How To Know Which Pieces Of Glass To Put Up At Auction

If you look for antique glassware in stores or online, you’ll come across dozens of antique and vintage glass companies. Here are a few of the most well-known:

• Fenton – Founded in 1905, this company was well-known for its colored glass and high-quality vintage items. The majority are denoted by a stylized “F” and the company name.
• Hazel-Atlas – Founded in 1902, this company specialized in machine-molded glass, particularly colored Depression glass. Their logo is an “A” beneath an “H.”
• Westmoreland – Beginning in 1889, Westmoreland specialized in milk glass, hand-decorated glass, and carnival glass, producing beautiful pieces for nearly a century. For early pieces, they used a mark that looked like a “W” in a frame, and for later ones, they used an overlapping “W” and “G.”

If you can tell who made your glassware based on the markings, you should be able to figure out what pattern it is. Examine the pattern thoroughly and make a note of any distinguishing characteristics. Even a crayon and a thin piece of paper can be used to make a rubbing. Then, search the internet for a similar pattern. Replacements, Ltd., an antique glassware retailer, is a good place to start. On eBay, you can also look for glassware from the same company.

Collectors will enjoy the fact that vintage and antique glassware comes in a variety of colors. You can collect a single type of item in each color or an entire set in one color.

• Cranberry – This red glass is valuable and beautiful because it is made by including gold oxide in the glassmaking process.
• Cobalt glass is a deep blue color created by adding cobalt salts to molten glass.
• Jadeite – Jadeite is a pale green stone that often contains uranium.
• Amber – The addition of sulfur to the glass results in a golden color.

You can estimate the age of your glassware if you recognize the pattern and color. A pattern is often designed by a manufacturer for a specific number of years. If you know a pattern was manufactured between the 1920s and the 1940s, for example, you can be confident that your glass piece is from that era.

If you don’t know the pattern, you can use aesthetic details to estimate the age. For example, a piece of Art Deco glass with geometric designs is most likely from the 1930s or 1940s.

Some vintage glass is just worth a few dollars, while others are worth thousands. Several variables influence the value of antique glassware, including:

• Rarity – If a pattern or color was mass-produced, it is usually less valuable. Collectors, on the other hand, may value it if it is rare.
• Condition – A piece with chips, cracks, discoloration, and other damage is less valuable than a comparable piece in perfect condition.
• Beauty – While this is subjective, a particularly beautiful piece is usually worth more than a less appealing one.

Looking for antique glass pieces?

High Plains Auctioneers had many unique antiques at every auction. Whatever you’re looking for, we have something for everyone. Check out all of our upcoming auctions here and get ready to find something amazing.