how to tell if glass is antique

• Pontil marks - Blown glass, as opposed to molded glass, usually has a pontil mark on the bottom. This has a circular shape.
• Bubbles and irregularities - Many antique glass pieces have tiny bubbles or other imperfections in the glass. You may have to look very closely to see these.
• Patina - Older glass usually has a patina of time and use. There may be tiny flakes, missing gilt areas, or small chip and scratches.

Full Answer

How to spot valuable glassware?

Method 2 of 2: Distinguishing Real from Reproduction Pieces

1. Look for tiny bubbles on the surface of the glass. Check the piece very closely, and look at it from all angles.
2. Check the base of the piece for small lines. Turn the piece upside down, and look closely at the base.
3. Find seam lines, especially around lid pieces of glassware. Check around the edges of the lid. ...
4. Search for scratches on the glassware. ...

How to identify antique and vintage American glassware styles?

How to Identify Vintage-Cut Glass Patterns

• Vintage and Antique Glass. Antique glass is a century or more old; vintage glass, produced in the period from around 1930 to 1965 or so, was pressed, machine-made, practical and ...
• Collectors' Patterns. ...
• Glass Quality. ...
• Authentic Antiques. ...
• Decor and Display. ...

How to find out if a glass mirror is antique?

Things You'll Need

• A mirror (can be framed or unframed)
• Old newspapers/paper bags/butcher paper or thick plastic sheet
• Respirator
• Safety goggles
• Disposable gloves
• Paint stripper (aerosol or gel style)
• Putty knife or other scraper
• Mineral spirits (if required to clean off the paint stripper; see manufacturer's instructions)
• Paper towels
• Empty spray bottle

More items...

How do you identify an antique item?

To do it, all you need to do is:

• Upload a photo of your antique item along with any relevant information you might have about it
• Sit back while a team consisting of more than 60 experts analyzes your item
• Take a look at the appraisal you receive via email

How do you know if old glass is valuable?

Pink, green and blue are the most valuable colors of depression glass. Pink tends to be the most valuable because it is more rare. Yellow and amber colored depression glass is more common and therefore less valuable.

How do you identify antique cut glass?

Much of the old glass was unsigned; paper labels did not survive: It would have required acid marks to permanently identify the manufacturer or glass-cutter. But a black light helps to establish the authenticity of old cut glass. The majority of ABP glass pieces will fluoresce lime-green when exposed to black light.

Is there an app to identify antique glassware?

A startup called Image Searcher has created a version of its CamFind image recognition app that works with Google's Glass wearable device. That means a Glass wearer can look at something and CamFind will identify it within a matter of seconds.

What glassware is worth money?

10 Most Expensive and Valuable Glassware?No.NamePrice1Antique Marigold Carnival Glass Round Bowl$3002Antique Jardiniere Bowl$4503Antique Grape Leaves Bowl$5904Art Nouveau Vase in Pink Mouth$1,3406 more rows

Does old glass have seams?

If you examine a piece of pressed glass you will always find either two, three or four seams running through the glass, although sometimes the seams were well hidden in the pattern. The number of mold lines in a piece of glass does not determine the age.

What color of depression glass is most valuable?

Pink glass is most valuable, followed by blue and green. Rare colors such as tangerine and lavender are also worth more than common colors like yellow and amber. If you stumble upon an extremely rare piece like the red ruby Aladdin Beehive Lamp, expect to pay $800 or more!

How do I know if I have an antique?

Antiques are items which must be at least 100 years old. That means, as of the date of this posting, an antique item was made on or before April of 1918. Items over 300 years of age generally fall into one of two categories depending upon whether they are manmade creations or natural finds.

Is there an app that tells you how much something is worth?

ShopSavvy is a powerful price-comparison app that lets you scan barcodes from your phone to find product reviews and pricing. You can also choose to input your product's name in the app's search engine. Once it's found your product, ShopSavvy will pull up the cheapest local or online price for it.

How do you date an antique?

How to Determine the Age of Antique FurnitureLook Past the Style of a Piece.Examine Bottoms, Insides, and Backs.Check for Perfectly Matching Elements.Try to Figure Out What Tools Were Used.Look at the Wood and Upholstery Fabric.Investigate the Screws and Other Hardware.

What is the most expensive antique glassware?

The most expensive piece of glassware ever sold at auction was a Roman glass bowl, intact after 1,700 years of existence. The Constable-Maxwell cage-cup – an oil lamp – sold for £2,646,650.00 at auction at Bonhams to a phone bidder.

What vintage items are hot right now?

Here, you'll find a list of the most popular vintage items that are currently in demand.Records. Records are a popular collectible item among various age groups. ... Vintage Advertising Signage. ... Vintage Books. ... Automobilia/Petroliana. ... Vintage Toys. ... Jewelry. ... Mid-Century Modern. ... Art Deco.More items...•

Is green depression glass worth anything?

Produced by Hocking Glass Company around 1929 to 1933, this green glass cup is a common find. The value has generally held steady around $5 for a single cup for a few decades.

What Makes Glass Antique?

When does the glassware in your kitchen cupboard go from family heirloom to precious antique?

Types of Antique Glass

Depression glass: One of the most popular types of antique glass to collect, depression glass, became popular in the 1930s and was offered extremely cheap to families struggling through the Great Depression. The colorful, translucent glass is so sought after today not only for its looks, but for the part of American history it represents.

Antique Glass Care

For most antique glass pieces, a simple wipe-down with a damp cloth every now and then should be enough to keep them in good condition.

Buy and Sell Your Antique Glass in New York City

If you own antique glass and are interested in selling it, finding out its value, or if you’re looking to add new antique glass pieces to your collection, look no further than Syl-Lee Antiques. Our family-owned and operated business has been one of New York City’s most trusted antique companies for over 40 years.

How to identify the maker of glassware?

Makers can be identified by examining company marks and signatures located on the bottom of the glassware. However, since reproductions are common, it’s essential to study the marks, colors, and styles of genuine art glass to properly identify the maker of a piece.

How long has glass been around?

Although glass objects have been produced as early as the Bronze Age, the more modern technique of cut glass dates back approximately 2,000 years. Glassmakers would hold a cooled piece of glass to a grinding wheel to carve fine grooves, intricate patterns, and compelling designs.

How much does a Fenton glassware cost?

Despite the high cost of a few rare examples, you can find Fenton glassware for less than $100 each, with many selling for as low as $10 to $20. “Hobnail” glass, which featured a uniform bumpy surface inspired by Victorian design, was one of the most famous Fenton glass styles.

What company made carnival glass?

Fenton Glass Company was one of the most prominent glassmaking companies in American history and led to many of the styles discussed in this guide. Drawing inspiration from Tiffany Studios and Steuben Glass, the firm introduced carnival glass in 1907 before going on to create over 150 different patterns in this style.

What is vintage glassware?

Vintage glassware encompasses many types of decorative and functional objects including glasses, plates, vases, and bowls.

What is art glass?

Art glass refers to the innovative work of glassmakers who experimented with new techniques and designs at the turn of the 20th century. Their artistry gave way to an assortment of handmade objects like vases, bowls, bottles, paperweights, and even marbles.

What are the factors that affect the value of carnival glass?

Factors like age, item type, size, colors, and condition affect the value of carnival glass. Pieces dating before 1940 are more valuable, as are complete sets of items and larger objects. Colors like ice green (which is sold for over $16,000) and marigold are rarer and highly prized.

How to tell if a piece of glass is vintage?

There are some telltale signs that a piece in new. A vintage piece of glass will have some signs of wear. The edges will be softer and more rounded than a new piece. The glass will look different. Older items tend to have a rimmed base while the newer ones tend to be smooth. Antique cut glass has sharper and cleaner edges than the newer cut glass. ...

How many colors are there in glassware?

Various manufacturers used colors in their glassware but rarely did a company use every color in every pattern. Some patterns may come in two colors plus clear glass while others may be available in seven or eight colors .

What Is Antique Glassware?

Antique glassware represents a wide array of decorative yet functional items that have been around since the late 1800s. The different types of antique glassware include glasses, bowls, vases, and plates.

How to Identify Antique Glassware

Being an antique glassware collector can be very interesting. However, you will need to know how to identify antique glassware. This will prevent you from making costly errors.

How to Find Antique Glassware Values

There are several steps that you can take to discover the value of antique glassware. We have listed them below:

Conclusion

Antique glassware has gone through a series of booms and declines from the 18th century till this moment. To ensure that you purchase the right collectibles, you will need to be informed about their manufacturers and properties.

What is an antique glass bottle?

The antique glass bottle universe contains bottles of many shapes, sizes, and colors. Smooth-based, embossed, private mold, and other bottle effects provide insights that may be useful in determining an old glass bottle’s age.

What are the different colors of glass bottles?

However, antique bottle color can give hints to the approximate age of the bottle. The following are notable glass colors and the eras in which they were most popular: 1 Amber Glass: Mostly in use from the late 18th century through the mid-20th century 2 Aqua Glass: Mostly in use between the 1850s to 1880s 3 Black Glass: Early 17th century European use as well as use from the 1840s to 1880s#N#“True” Blue Glass: Mostly in use from the 1840s through the 1930s (various bottle types) 4 Clear (or colorless) Glass: Originally appeared around the 1870s 5 Greens (non-olive) and Blue-greens Glass: Mostly made in the 19th or early 20th century 6 Olive Greens/Ambers Glass: Mostly in use in the 19th century and earlier 7 Opaque White or Milk Glass: Mostly in use from the 1870s through the mid-20th century 8 Purple/Amethyst/Red Glass: Mostly in use from the 1840s to the early 1880s

What is the mark on a bottle?

Before 1855, most bottles displayed an open “pontil mark” on the base of the bottle. Glassblowers used an iron punty rod to hold the bottle. They would secure the punty rod to the bottom of the bottle. When they finished creating the bottle, they would snap the punty rod off of the bottle, creating the pontil mark. The rough-looking open pontil mark, or pontil scar, looks like an irregular, colorless hole in the bottle’s base.

Why is the iron pontil bottle red?

The color is likely due to the color of the iron punty rod. Most iron pontil bottles were produced from 1845 through the mid-1860s.

How to tell if a bottle is embossed?

Multiple types of embossing effects may appear on a single bottle. You can often determine a bottle’s intended use by viewing its embossing effects. In addition, if a company embossed its name on bottles for many decades, you can determine the time period during which the company produced that type of bottle.

What does a bottle shape mean?

A specific bottle’s shape generally indicates the bottle’s use or type of contents. Most antique bottle styles and shapes were tied to a certain type of product. For example, beer bottles, soda bottles, and mineral water bottles were associated with specific bottle shapes.

What was the profession of glass blowing in the 1800s?

In the 1800s, glass blowing was a necessary profession. The skilled glassblower carefully blew molten glass into a wood or iron mold. Once the hot compound cooled, the artisan applied the finishing touches, including crafting the bottle lip. Bottle-making was a labor-intensive craft in the 1800s. Finding a glass-blown collectible from that era is a bottle digger’s dream.