Even people who have no intention of becoming collectors enjoy the look of American glass from the early and mid-nineteenth century. Being able to identify the different types, giving them a date and naming the manufacturer, makes browsing through your city's antique malls, flea markets, and yard sales more fun. You may even find that you have a favorite pattern. Vintage glassware collectibles are part of the history and culture of America.
If you find the terms antique, vintage, and collectible confusing, don't worry. Basically anything that people want is 'collectible', and there are always crazes and fads going on. Vintage means 'older' - think grandparents' style. Antique is probably over 100 years old and pricey, but vintage can be anything from an attic find to a yard sale treasure. It helps if you can give the item a date or at least a decade.
Antiques, on the other hand, have value that is supposed to be enduring. They don't go 'out of fashion', and they are usually at least one hundred years old. Collectible glassware may be fifty or sixty years at most. It is affordable, and people usually buy it because they like a certain pattern, color, and function.
Collectible glass comes in functional pieces like dishes, platters, punch bowls, vases, and drinking glasses. It was also used for decorative items, from paperweights and Christmas tree ornaments to lamp shades, but these are harder to find. It has always been popular to give glass items as wedding presents, and many a family heirloom holds memories of the giver and the occasion. Some highly decorative, colorful glass was given as prizes at carnivals and Bingo games.
American glass is closely linked to history. Hand-cut and polished glass was a status symbol during the 1920s. Depression glass, a machine-made pressed glass that came in many colors, was an extremely affordable but cheerful way for poorer people to furnish their homes. It was sold at dime stores, given away as souvenirs, or put in boxes of cereal and detergent to boost sales.
The mass-produced pressed glass is often colorful and patterned. When world wars made importing British and European glass difficult, American companies began to offer a wide range of machine and hand-made items. Search online for Fostoria, Cambridge, and Heisey glass to get an idea of what was popular during the forties. There are many different lines, with catchy names like American Sweetheart.
Many people remember their grandmother's glasses or serving bowls, or have found a box of colored and patterned glass in the attic. It's fun to identify these family pieces by maker and date of manufacture. You may find that you like the nostalgia of using them on your own table or that you actually have a valuable heirloom. What might have seemed old fashioned or fussy can now be charming and quaint. Go online and see all the different categories in this genre.
Once you know your glass, trips to yard sales, flea markets, and antique malls are more fun than ever. You can add flair to your table, display pretty plates in a cabinet, or find the perfect vase for the hall table. Decorating with historic things is fun and helps you develop your own unique look.
If you find the terms antique, vintage, and collectible confusing, don't worry. Basically anything that people want is 'collectible', and there are always crazes and fads going on. Vintage means 'older' - think grandparents' style. Antique is probably over 100 years old and pricey, but vintage can be anything from an attic find to a yard sale treasure. It helps if you can give the item a date or at least a decade.
Antiques, on the other hand, have value that is supposed to be enduring. They don't go 'out of fashion', and they are usually at least one hundred years old. Collectible glassware may be fifty or sixty years at most. It is affordable, and people usually buy it because they like a certain pattern, color, and function.
Collectible glass comes in functional pieces like dishes, platters, punch bowls, vases, and drinking glasses. It was also used for decorative items, from paperweights and Christmas tree ornaments to lamp shades, but these are harder to find. It has always been popular to give glass items as wedding presents, and many a family heirloom holds memories of the giver and the occasion. Some highly decorative, colorful glass was given as prizes at carnivals and Bingo games.
American glass is closely linked to history. Hand-cut and polished glass was a status symbol during the 1920s. Depression glass, a machine-made pressed glass that came in many colors, was an extremely affordable but cheerful way for poorer people to furnish their homes. It was sold at dime stores, given away as souvenirs, or put in boxes of cereal and detergent to boost sales.
The mass-produced pressed glass is often colorful and patterned. When world wars made importing British and European glass difficult, American companies began to offer a wide range of machine and hand-made items. Search online for Fostoria, Cambridge, and Heisey glass to get an idea of what was popular during the forties. There are many different lines, with catchy names like American Sweetheart.
Many people remember their grandmother's glasses or serving bowls, or have found a box of colored and patterned glass in the attic. It's fun to identify these family pieces by maker and date of manufacture. You may find that you like the nostalgia of using them on your own table or that you actually have a valuable heirloom. What might have seemed old fashioned or fussy can now be charming and quaint. Go online and see all the different categories in this genre.
Once you know your glass, trips to yard sales, flea markets, and antique malls are more fun than ever. You can add flair to your table, display pretty plates in a cabinet, or find the perfect vase for the hall table. Decorating with historic things is fun and helps you develop your own unique look.
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