Beautiful and highly coveted, antique glass is something that collectors of all kinds gravitate towards. There is something about the beauty of antique glass that evokes a sense of timelessness, history, and purpose. Owning a piece of antique glass brings with it something that you will cherish and love to look at. An antique glass collection is something that you will want to pass down to future generations. It will bring memories to the new owner. Especially if the antique glass was actually used!

There is a wide variety of types of antique glass available. Some are more valuable and/or rare than others. When beginning a collection of antique glass, you may want to focus on one aspect of it and concentrate your collection on that area. Below is a little more information on some of the more popular types of antique glass. Look into each one to become more versed on the types available.

Art Glass - Art glass are glass pieces that have been designed by artists. They are often one-of-a-kind, or unusual and unique pieces in either a modern or artistic design. Sometimes art glass is a sculptural decorative piece or sometimes it is a piece that can be used like a vase or plate.

Carnival Glass - In the early 1900's, Carnival Glass was given away at carnivals, thus it's name. Over the years, it has become very popular with collectors. Some of the most valuable types of carnival glass are those that are made in reds and pastel colors like blue and peach.

China - When one speaks of antique china, it is mostly of porcelain that they are referring to. Antique china was made in various countries. Look for Danish, Prussian, English/Irish, Austrian, French, German, Japanese or Chinese marks on the bottom of the piece. This symbol will denote the country of origin and the manufacturer. From there you can do further research to find out more about the piece.

Depression Glass - Depression glass was made in the 1920's, 30's and 40's by a few North American manufacturers. It was mass-produced and often of a poor quality. The pieces are a molded glassware and often had flaws like visible mold markings and air bubbles. Many colors were made but today the most popular would be green, pink and cobalt blue. 

Milk Glass - Milk glass was blown or pressed into a variety of shapes and sizes. It is a milky white opaque color. Some pieces go back to the 16th century in Venice, but more commonly you will find milk glass pieces around from the early part of the 20th century.

Pressed Glass - Pressed glass has a seam along one side. It is made by a plunger pressing the hot glass into a mold. Most depression era antique glass is pressed, including Carnival Glass.

Slag Glass - Slag glass was first produced around 1880. It is known by it's marble-type or streaked look to it. It comes in a variety of colors but one of the most commonly seen is a purple color.

Advice for New Antique Glass Collectors

1. Choose a specific area of antique glass and begin your collection concentrating on that one area.
2. Select the area of antique glass to collect based on what is esthetically pleasing to your eye, a challenge to you to collect, or even as an investment collection
3. Places to look to begin your collection would be the following: your grandmother's attic (!), yard sales, flea markets, auctions, church bazaars, eBay, other online resources, or antique stores. It goes without saying that purchasing a piece of antique glass to add to your collection from an antique store is likely to be more expensive than finding it a yard sale.

The thrill of finding a new piece to add to your collection is something that you will no doubt enjoy! Especially if you found the piece for a good deal and somewhere where you would least expect it.

Things to do with your Antique Glass Collection

Display it! Display your antique glass collection in clear glass cabinets. The best idea is to have them enclosed so that your pieces will be free from dust. They will also be safe from guests tempted to pick them up and handle them. Handling, dusting and cleaning antique glass is when you are most likely to have a mishap. If you've spent a fortune on your collection, you may be interested in preserving it as best as you can.

Show it! Sometimes there are shows out there for antique collectors. It is a wonderful place to meet new people, trade pieces and ideas. Put your items on display and be sure to add little labels beside them to describe the history of the piece. If you cannot find a show in your area, be the first to start one. It is a big undertaking but only as big as you make it. Help pay for the venue by having vendor booths available and charging admission to the show. Start small and if it is a success, repeat it again the following year on a larger scale.

Use it! Another option for antique glass, is to actually use it. Some would be shocked at this suggestion, but if your pieces are not that expensive, you may want to consider it. What fun it would be to have a dinner party with adults (of course, no children!) and have some of your pieces in use at the table setting. Use a bowl for serving food or a centrepiece of flowers. Place a sherbet glass at each place setting and add a bit of water to each glass. Then put a freshly cut large peony flower in each sherbert glass. What a beautiful display antique glass can have to a table setting and also it makes for a great conversation starter.

Sell it! If you are tired of your antique glass collection or maybe you've gained too many pieces, you may want to consider selling it. Selling a whole collection may be difficult unless you can find the right buyer of course. An easier way of selling it may be to sell it off one piece at a time using eBay. This great online auction service has the world at it's fingertips. You may find buyers from all over the world.

Pass it Down! Another option for your antique glass collection is to pass it on to someone else who may love and cherish it. Passing it down to your child or grandchild is a great option for keeping it in the family. You may want to wait until they are adult so that you can ensure that no harm would come to your valuable pieces.

Whatever you decide to do with your antique collection, be sure and have some fun with it. Whether you use it or have fun displaying it in creative ways, collections are made to be enjoyed!