After watching the market for glassware all but vanish in the early part of 2000, many of us held little hope for the return to popularity of this long time staple of the collecting world.
Gradually over the past couple of years a few mid-20th Century art glass pieces from factories like Blenko and Viking started to see return buyers. Now, as we approach the fall of 2018, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for another American classic, Milk Glass.
For those of you who are drawn to the beauty of this opalescent form of glassware, here is a brief history to help you know what to buy . . . and what to pass.
Early in the 19th century glass manufacturers began to refer to the milky glassware as “opal glass.” Pieces from the Gilded Age (a term coined by Mark Twain to describe the prosperous post-Civil War years in America), are sought by collectors for their delicacy and rich color. Late 1800s pieces from the “fin di siecle” (a French term meaning “the close of a century”) are also highly collectible. Examples from both the Gilded Age and the “fin di siecle” are considered by most to be the finest quality milk glass ever produced. Collectors will pay top dollar for mint condition pieces from these eras. Original patterns to watch for include the Fan, Button and Arches, Holly, Stars and Stripes and the Ribbed Grape. .
From 1900 until the onset of World War I opaque white glass reached the peak of it’s popularity and was now collectively referred to as “Milk Glass.”
The American public found it a feasible substitute for more costly European china and glass and sales soared. The opacity of the glass from this era was achieved by adding ash or oxides to clear glass. The use of various coloring agents turned milk glass into blue, pink, yellow, green and slag glass colors. Several quality glass manufacturers produced milk glass during this period. Atterbury, Challinor-Taylor, Westmoreland, and McKee are names to watch for.
The milk glass that most of us are familiar with was produced during the Depression Era of the 1930s through the end of the 1950s. The patterns will not have the high relief of earlier pieces, nor will they be of as high a quality. Two patterns emerged as the most recognizable from this time frame: Paneled Grape from Westmoreland Glass and the Hobnail pattern from the Fenton Glass Factory. So much Fenton Hobnail was sold from 1930-1960 that owner Bill Fenton actually referred to it as the company’s “bread and butter.”
After the 1960s, milk glass production declined in the U.S. due largely to legislation passed to protect the environment from the water pollution caused by the glass company’s disposal of tin oxide and fluorides. Pieces from 1960 forward are often referred to as “Modern Milk Glass.” These should not be confused with actual Milk Glass as they are simply clear glass with white paint added to the mix. Actual Milk Glass will be relatively opaque and when held up to the light will show “fire” (a slight rainbow of colors) in the glass. These newer pieces are of no interest to the serious collectors and if purchased should be of minimal cost.
Prices, even on pre-WWI milk glass, can be very modest as it has not quite started to trend. This is the time to buy. So, know what to look for, watch for quality and buy before the market value goes up. Until next time . . . Linda.
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com.
