How To Find Antique Glass Values

Up until the mid to late 1800s, glassware was not primarily used in the home, although the usage of glass for other purposes had been around for many years. The introduction to glass used in the average home was through the use of canning jars, typically manufactured for homeowners to preserve fruits and vegetables. As the Glass industry matured, the homemaker was soon introduced to a variety of glassware for use in the home, and subsequently, a new field of collecting was soon born.

The following 5 decades would witness a tremendous surge in glass production by dozens of manufacturers. Everything from dinnerware to glass vases to glass lamps, literally flooded the market until the 1950s. One company that became the largest producer of Glass in the world was the Hazel Atlas Glass Company. Although the antique glass of that era was used extensively in the home, it is this same glassware that has attracted the attention of many collectors.

Even though true antique glass is considered any piece that is more than 75 years old by experts and antique dealers, this number is not 'set in stone'. Glassware that is 50 to 75 years old may not be considered antique glass, however it is referred to as collectible glass as collectors will typically find it to be desirable as well. In most cases, it is the demand of collectors that largely determines the value of antique glass and not always the age.

A further misunderstanding is that because a piece of glass is old, it is worth money. That is not always the case, as some antique glass has very little desire and therefore will sell for quite low prices. It is possible your antique glass is extremely rare and you may not even know it. However, asking an antique dealer may not be in your best interests. This in many cases may be a mistake, simply because an antique dealer has a lot to gain from your lack of knowledge about a particular piece of antique glass.

This is the reason it is advantageous for you to research your glass and know the pattern and possibly the price before making it available for sale. Research on the Internet has made this process so much easier today. Once you are able to determine the pattern name, manufacturer, and approximate value of your antique glassware, you are better equipped with the knowledge necessary to sell, and ensure you get the best price. Learning the values of antique glass will better enable you to receive higher prices and more profit on pieces you own, collect, or buy and sell.

The glass houses that produced what is considered antique glass in the early to mid 1900s are a small group, therefore, it is very easy to find information on most antique glassware. Companies like Hazel Atlas, Jeanette, Mac-Beth Evans, and Duncan-Miller produced some of the most popular patterns. While all of these companies produced a fair share of household glassware during this period, the Hazel Atlas Glass company led the way in producing the most patterns. In Fact, Hazel Atlas was the largest glass manufacturer in the USA. Investigating the Hazel Atlas company would be the best place to begin your research.