Featured Learning about Glass

As I said in my introduction, I buy alot of different items from Estate Sales. Id like to begin selling some of these items. I'd also like to narrow what I buy to glass. Particularly antique crystal and the delicate glass and porcelain figurines (I don't know what this type of glass might be called). What is so exciting about wondering about estate sells is that you get to talk to alot of people with a lot of knowledge. I spoke to a gentleman yesterday who told me that learning about glass is very hard. For me, searching the internet is hard because I dont know what questions to ask. Does anyone have any pointers or references that I can use to increase my knowledge on these types of items?

 

Glass is hard, because there are so many different variables.
You'll have to narrow down time, country, and type of glass that you like.

This is pinned at the top of the board. You might have a look through and see if anything strikes your fancy.
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/glass-pottery-marks-reference-library.430/

Maybe if you post pictures of the types of things you like to purchase, we might be able to narrow a time frame.
If you need help posting pictures. Just add them to this thread.
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/making-a-post-and-uploading-pictures.16038/

 

Books......buy a bunch of books....

 

Here are some pictures of the type of glass I like. I realized when I was looking that I gravitate toward color.

 

A couple of more

 

You have some beautiful pieces. The blue and bold one with the jewels show with a black background is absolutely stunning.

The green and clear goblet appears to be what is referred to as "cut to clear" though it would be stained. Cut to clear was popular around the turn of the last century and is still being made today. A layer of glass is applied over clear glass, then cuts are made (hence the name) to expose the clear glass underneath. At a guess, your goblet is newer. Much of it comes from Europe. The last picture appears to shows examples of a similar look, but less expensive to produce. The color is achieved via a stain which is set with heat. The raised areas on the piece that are colored indicate pressed glass which is stained. As I indicated the goblet could be stained as well. It can be difficult to tell one from the other in just a picture. Experience with both will help you distinguish one from the other.

The 2nd 4th and 6th pieces are most likely from Bohemia or Czech area's and probably date to around the turn of the last century. It can sometimes be difficult to attribute them to a manufacturer, especially the 2nd and 6th. The 4th piece could be Moser a 160-year-old company located in what is now known as the Czech Republic, not to be confused with Mosser, a 30+-year-old American company. Moser is known for their exceptional quality glass and decoration. Mosser produces pressed glass, much of it reproductions.

 

The first piece from your 2nd set of pics is Carnival glass, again from the early part of the last century. Most of what you see here in the states was made here, though there was some produced in Europe. Carnival glass is still being produced today, but for the most part it looks much much different from the original.

Here is a website that is a good starting point for Carnival glass

http://ddoty.com/

I can't see the pitcher and tumbler set well enough to tell for sure what category of glass it falls in.

 

@msgood2shoe , these arent mine, although I wish they were. These are the pieces that I really like and samples of pieces that I'd like to get more knowledge of. I posted them in response to @clutteredcloset49 suggestion. But the information you provided helps alot.

 

A good pace to start might be a basic history of glass, with a strong dose of the technologies involved. I would recommend Chloe Zerwick's "A Short History of Glass", published by the Corning Museum of Glass. Being able to recognize different methods of manufacture is critical to understanding glass.

 

I agree about buying some books. I found them to be so helpful when I first started out.
Good luck and I hope you find many goodies when you go to estate sales.

 

Glass Reference books at auction are a lot less expensive now because a lot of people would rather look on the internet.

You sound a lot like me when I first started out. I had just a few books that I carefully purchased based not only on what I like to buy but also what will sell. So the first books I acquired were about Fenton Glass, Elegant Glass and some others. I have about 100 books now, more or less. Be sure to buy used books. The values they give are not relevant anyway. You need to research sold prices on venues like ebay.

What I did while I was learning was only buy pretty things that I thought others would like as well. Then asked myself "what would I pay for this item at retail?" And paid accordingly. There's a lot of overhead in selling - cost of goods, fees, rents in malls, fixtures, etc. And of course, finding a place for all of it in your home, basement, whatever. All of that needs to be factored in to what you pay for something.

Also, as an FYI, glass prices are way down right now, so go carefully. Everyone loves pretty glass but people are able to do without it, as opposed to food, clothing and other essentials. Collecting is no longer a Thing.

I love estate/tag sales because they are more relaxed and you see what type of person might buy an item. But auctions are usually cheaper and more aggravating.

Why do you want to venture into selling? If I'm not being too nosey.

 

Thanks everyone. I just ordered ChloeZerwick's "A Short History of Glass”.
@ola402, 100 books. Wow

 

@ola42. I started estate selling about 3 years back. I wanted to decorate my home with antiques and thought estate sells were the cheapest option. When I finished decorating, I found myself collecting because I became a little addicted to finding treasures. I have a lot of people who compliment my items and I’ve bought several things at the request of others. All of this has made me think that if I learn more I can make a profit selling.

 

The suggestion to learn the history of glass and how it's made is a good one.

Do you have a good library? I would start there.
If they don't have, ask them to get, books on Cut Glass, European Glass, Victorian Glassware. Once you find books that are helpful to you, then start building your library. You'll be able to find used books at used book stores, abebooks.com and ebay.

What I see that you have picked out:
1. Red glass - Not sure what that is, may or may not be Cambridge (American)
2. 1890 - early 1900s Bohemian Glass
3. Cut to clear Cut Glass 1890s to 1930s.
4. Museum quality, early glass, not something you are likely to come across in a store or estate sale. Although you never know. You might be lucky.
5. American water pitcher with applied gold. Probably early 1900s.
6. Probably Bohemian 1890s - early 1900s with Japonica influence
7. Newer cut to clear, probably European.
8. Early 1900s Carnival glass
9. Depression era glass pitcher and tumblers.

My conclusion it that you have a good eye for better quality items. The Depression glass set, is collectible, but not high quality glass.

And you can always post pictures with questions for us to answer.

 

Thank you SO MUCH!!!!

 

If I had a recommendation, it would be to choose another category. Unless you focus on high quality and rare, there is not much of a market. Consistently finding high quality rare pieces at a price you can make a profit on is very difficult.

 

Agree with verybrad. We thought we could learn it all... Obviously not the case. I decided to focus on oil lamps, and that is proving to be a wise move.

 

This was just posted in another thread, you might find it helpful.

http://theantiquarian.us/Glass Types.htm

 

You may be right. Maybe I’ll continue to just collect glass. I also like antique costume jewelry and oil paintings, the latter is so difficult find information on and I’m not sure if there is a market for costume jewelry

 

There is a good market for signed costume jewelry. Can't help much on oil paintings. I have little experience with oil paintings. There's nothing wrong with collecting glass based solely on its aesthetic value. If it makes you smile when you look at it then it's worth collecting. Folks that collect for purely (or primarily for) speculative purposes are frequently disappointed as prices do not always appreciate. And they rarely last long as antique dealers.
Don