Best Guide for Preserving Antique Glassware

Identifying antique glassware is often not an easy thing to do. Before investing in any glassware it is good to know how to determine the exact value of antique glassware. This type of glassware can be an excellent investment and if you take good care of the items many will increase in value.

What is Antique Crystal Glassware?

Crystal glassware is a high quality type of glassware that adds sparkle and luster to any collection. The high lead content in crystal makes it more durable and 'clearer' than normal glass. The thinness of crystal glasses allows them to keep drinks at the temperature at which they were poured and as such they are a favorite for serving fine wines. The term "antique crystal glassware" refers to pieces that were in the nineteenth century or earlier. The older the glassware, the higher its price.

Different Types of Glassware

There are many different types of antique glassware such as antique amber glassware, green antique glassware and antique crystal glassware or the pink "Depression ware" pieces popular with collectors in the United States. Manufacturers ranged from the exquisite crystal pieces produced in Austria and Czecho slovakia to the bohemian and floral patterns associated with 19th century Moser glass.

A popular and inexpensive type of glassware for beginning collectors is carnival glass. The material is iridescent because metallic salts were applied during production and is usually a rich, deep purple. The Fenton Art Glass Company began to produce carnival glass in 1905 and ultimately made more than 150 patterns. The quality of Fenton pieces is excellent and the company was one of the few to make red carnival glass. The name "carnival" glass stems from the fact that the pieces were often given out as promotional gifts and as prizes at county fairs and carnivals.

While carnival glass is, for the most part, inexpensive, it is also a good glass product for new collectors to learn the process of authenticating pieces. Few carnival glass manufacturers used maker's marks so that collectors must use old catalogs and other materials to compare patterns, colors, thickness, and other features to determine if the piece they are considering is genuine. This is the sort of "eye" the collector of glassware needs to develop.

Collectible items can be classes by manufacturer or by function. Some collectors may specialize in wine glasses, vases, or pitchers, while others are attracted to decorative pieces such as compotes produced by companies like Gillinder and Sons in the 1800s. Often used to hold candy, the bowl of the compote sits on a small pedestal and was frequently decorated with frosted animal heads, for instance that of a lion.

Due to the wide variety of pieces available in the genre of glassware collection, and the diversity of their style and quality, beginning collectors usually concentrate on one class of items.

Continue to: Information on Antique Glassware Prices and Tips to Select Them

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