Featured Buying glass for fun and profit.....

This is a bit of a theoretical question for now since I am not currently selling anything. I do add to my hoard for some future selling endeavors. I know a bit about some areas of glass and collect art glass. I know enough to not buy most run-of-the-mill depression glass and EAPG. I pass by a lot of pyrex because I think it too high priced. However, there are some grey areas for me where I may be passing by potential profit.

I am mostly talking about glass that is relatively dirt cheap. Here are a couple examples from yesterday. This Westmoreland milk glass banana stand was $4.00. It is a pretty large impressive piece. This morning I see some selling on ebay in the $15.00 range and others priced much higher there and elsewhere. If I thought I could get anywhere near that locally, I might have purchased this. I also had a question about authenticity. The base showed absolutely no wear. Have these been reproduced?


Secondly, I assume this is Fenton but have not tried to find it. Priced at $4.00. It had a $19.00 dealer price tag on the back. I assume that if a dealer could not sell it for $19.00, there was little upside for me. Did I make the right call in not buying?


Another issue in evaluating this is that I personally do not like milk glass, nor 99% of most Fenton. I pass these categories by all the time. Are either of these hot collector categories? When I had the shop, I did buy some Fenton if I could buy it cheaply and sold it pretty cheaply as well. I don't think I ever bought any milk glass.

Are there other types of glass I should be looking for? I pass by most crystal unless it is Waterford or Steuben. Should I be buying that Shannon and Mikasa? I buy elegant wheel-cut stems in sets of 6 or more when I can, despite knowing that not too many people care for them these days. They just seem too good to pass by if dirt cheap (usually a dollar/stem or less). I pass by most candlewick and Heisey as there seems to be little market. I know this is a hard question, as you don't know what I know and don't know ... LOL! I would appreciate your thoughts in general and any specific tips you can provide.

 

is this the plate/tray?
Tree of Love White Opalescence Crimped Plate by Fenne Glass Woriks | Replacements, Ltd.

 

I don't think so, though the center section looks right. It did not have so nearly a distinct pattern, otherwise. Maybe it is the same but a poor impression? Maybe a different pattern by the same company? In looking at Fenton, I no longer believe this to be by them.

 

prolly loses detail on that white background as well.
other examples:
fenne opalescent glass - page 1 | WorthPoint

 

stay away from glass if you neither know it or love it......!

 

I dont buy milk glass either. I see it so much in thrift shops it seems they made too much of it. I do keep an eye out for the cake stands though. Cake stands in different glass companies do sell well. You did good by passing up the clear to opalescent edge fenton piece. Since it's mostly clear glass with a little opalescent edge people are not into clear glass anymore and I think that's why the dealer couldn't sell it since it's mostly clear. Mikasa I bought a few pieces to experiment with. They eventually sold but it took forever but I think the market just isn't there yet for Mikasa. Probably down the road more people will catch on to it. Steuben and waterford still sell well. Shannon crystal I see occasionally at thrifts but I don't buy it because I'm not sure how the market is yet. Baccarat is another good crystal company to look for. Orrefors isn't bad either. Candlewick cake stands still decently but other than the cake stands don't bother with the rest. I'm not a full expert in glass still learning but just going by what works for me.

 

I buy and sell milk glass, I stay away from lesser brands. Westmoreland and Fenton do well for me, some patterns better than others. The colored crests by Fenton are popular. Milk glass seems to go in waves, I can go without selling any for months and then, all of a sudden, it flies out of my booth!

Banana bowls take a long time to sell, cake stands go faster, especially Fenton Hobnail or Spanish Lace with a crimped edge.

Depression glass in pink and green sell well for me also. I stay away from the amber colors, right now they just aren't popular.

I also sell etched stems when I can find them, it's getting harder as time goes on. I more often find wheel cut stems, they sell but I have to get them cheap. Most of the stems I sell were originally sold as water glasses, about 9 oz. The vintage wines are small, too small for today, about 6 oz. I do find nice ones occasionally, and people will buy them for cocktails or sherry. Cordials are a tough sell, footed tumblers do well if they have a nice etch.

The opalescent piece does not look like Fenton to me, not all crimped edged glass is Fenton. I agree with TallCakes, looks more like Fenne Glass Works, the pointy crimp and the four feet around the bottom are a good indicator. JMHO

 

I am taking a lot of stuff that did not sell in my garage sale to a local auction . He gives you a table you can fill the week before the auction and then he takes 27% but better than throwing it away. His one rule NO CLEAR GLASS! I buy Pyrex when cheap. By the way the makers of Pyrex are going bankrupt. Wonder what that will do to values. Another FYI is the newer Pyrex is not tolerant of sudden change of temperature as the old stuff.I think milk glass is wonderful to decorate with at Christmas time but I am picking about what i buy. i have the Sundae glasses and the ice tea glass. they will sell.

 

The Westmoreland milk glass was a popular wedding gift mid century. It would have stayed in its original packaging in a closet and have no wear. It was never used.

All of the Fenton is now made in chicom in the same old molds, same glass recipes. Marked only with an easily removable MADE IN CHINA label.

I doubt glass prices will increase.

 

I thought that the bottom had dropped out for crystalware other than the big names. (Similar to china.) I by-pass glass most of the time (also, no buying/selling at the moment as I'm under deaccessioning orders!) because it doesn't spark joy for me most of the time and I don't know enough to feel remotely confident. Do like the Scandinavian stuff somewhat, though. However, I'd've (spellcheck doesn't like that contraction!) bought the banana stand and use it.

 

Mid-Century glass has a following. Viking will sell and unusual colors and shapes can bring decent amounts. As for Fenton - I am avoiding most of it now except for animal figurines. Those are worth buying for the right price as they have a pretty good sell through rate. Fenton's decorated Burmese is strong (especially with Chinese overseas buyers) but it's difficult to outbid the collectors. I would avoid Shannon and Mikasa. Their shapes are somewhat limited and collectors are few. Like you, I also avoid Heisey and would recommend adding Imperial and Cambridge to the list. Almost every category of clear glass is a tough sell right now. Depression glass has shown a slight uptick but not enough to warrant a buy. The same with Early American Pattern Glass. Milk glass will sell but the $15.00 price you are seeing for the banana boat is average. I can't think of too much milk glass that will sell for much more than that. The banana boat you have was produced heavily which is why you are not have any trouble finding comps. It's mainly a 1970's pattern if I remember correctly and it's primarily a display piece so I wouldn't expect to see much wear. Carnival glass is iffy but avoid marigold at all costs. If I were going to invest I would recommend French glass, especially Baccarat and Lalique. Daum crystal is a slow sell but their pate de verre is still strong. Waterford giftware is slow to move but their other glass still sells. I have heard other sellers and auctioneers say they can't sell Waterford but I seem to do pretty well with it. I can't seem to move any signed English glass at all.

One area showing real life right now is Mosser glass cats. They're very small and not particularly well made but some bring well over $100. They also are not very old but it's one of those categories where some determined collectors want a cat in every color Mosser produced and they will pay what it takes to win an auction. I wish I could figure out what's going to the next Mosser cat. I have noticed the same trends with some Boyd glass and some Degenhart glass but nothing to the same extent.

Good luck to you and everyone else here! And if you can't pieces that make you money I hope you find pieces that you love. Happy hunting!
Don

 

Not, as I mentioned on another post, the bankruptcy in this case is a reorganization not a liquidation. The brand is not going away.

 

I agree about the milk glass and most clear glass. One I watch for is Stuart; it's made in the UK. It's decent now, but there's a book coming out. Anything with an air twist in the stem can be money as long as it's not Chinese-made. Colored glass is where the market is now, the brighter the better.

I just scored a Blenko bowl today for a buck; signed glass for a dollar was a no-brainer. I only pick up clear glass for another dealer if it's Waterford or occasionally Orrefors. One thing that does move locally is that enameled/painted barware. Mid-century bar glasses do well.

 

I sell a lot of Fenton but I agree, any animals are quick to sell. I sold 5 cats all to 1 person at one of the malls I'm in. Surprisingly, Boyd swans do quite well. I have 1 shelf with Fostoria American and Candlewick. I sell a couple pieces now and then, mostly in the fall before holidays. I do quite well with carnival, always looking through Dave Doty's website before buying and using for a price guide. Blenko and a lot of Viking are easy sellers. A few milk glass pieces do well, Fenton's white hobnail mayos, salt & peppers, butter dishes are good.

I've bought and sold Pyrex for years. It's gotten pretty scarce and a whole lot more expensive but you can still find deals if you look. Condition condition condition is the first consideration. Then you have to identify the pattern before you can arrive at a price. There are some pieces that barely settle on the shelf before finding a new home, others that languish for months.

Don't forget Jadeite! In good condition most Fire King and Mckee moves well with the exception of cups and saucers. Mugs go great.

Linda

 

I have NEVER had a problem selling a banana stand - if you invest a dime for a banana and put it on the stand I assure you it will sell the first day on the local level - few people know what they are for and everyone on the planet eats bananas - it's an unusual focal point for a little bit of money - I mark mine $18-24 and take $15 - that is a quick 10 bucks! the other milk not mentioned that sells well is Westmoreland Grapes pattern - there are a lot of those tall glass pitchers around and they bring the same price points - mark them $18-24 and take $15... the thing about the westmoreland milk stuff is that it is HEFTY - you get a lot of bang for the buck - and white is neutral and clean - it is a desirable color for today's clean look that people want and it blends with anything...

I also wouldn't be to quick to pass up on some of the Shannon and Mikasa pieces - the Mikasa Park Lane looks like Baccarat and a set of 8 flutes or goblets still brings $100-150... and the same for the Shannon - they made a lot of OVERSIZED pieces - especially champagne buckets and ice buckets - they are huge - it is a LOT of bang for the buck...

also - anything Fenton for $5 or less grab - I don't care what it is - a piece of Fenton marked $12 and take $10 on the local level is going to sell...

 

When I was selling, I did a lot of glassware. Right now, it's a little off. So as well as buying "what sells", I bought what I thought I could sell. Drop a milk glass banana stand on a plain shelf, and it likely won't sell. But arrange it in your space, to show in an attractive manner (like placing bananas in it or a set of fine large napkins) and presto! EAPG is a huge weakness for me and I almost cannot walk by a fine compote, especially with a lid or a cake stand or jug. When you suggest (in a listing or a store display) how well this old glass fits in a country kitchen, it sells.

Especially in malls, you have to do something to get attention. More stuff sold off my arranged tables than from shelves. So i moved it around a lot. And I bought a LOT of clear glass (it was the joke at auctions), but you have to know about it or envision it nicely displayed. Once I bought a set of 4 Meringues with gold rims with wear. In inventory I had a set of leftover Haviland 7" White plates with a thick green and gold border. They looked very pretty with the meringues on them. The Great British Baking Show had just aired an episode where the bakers had to make meringues. So I found the recipe from the show and put it with the glasses and plates and out the door they went. They looked so charming even with the wear in the gold rims.

So Brad, it may be more difficult for men to imagine a well dressed table with glassware. I sometimes wonder if that's why most of the men at auctions buy the art glass, paperweights and marbles but leave the tableware (unless they know it's "what sells"). But you have very good instincts (as shown by your art and furniture picks), so keep on doing what you're doing.

 

Very good reply! I've been buying Mikasa Park Lane for awhile, some Mikasa vases, and some of that floral pink tinted stuff and it all sold well. In the Spring I sold Westmoreland MG tall pitchers with silk daffodils in them. No one said a vase couldn't have a handle.

 

I would add that Cake Stands can do nicely for sales. Martha Stewart reproduced the jadite cake stands and they sell well because they present nicely.

Pam, is right, presentation is key. There is a seller on etsy who has a lot of milk glass last time I looked and she sells it for high prices because she stages her photos. A plain white milk glass piece with her colorful floral addition in the photos makes all the difference. I was never good at staging so I just did not to it.

FK and McKee Jadite sell, but nowhere near the prices they were years ago.
I recently passed up some jadite at 2 different sales because it is so heavy to ship. In my younger years, I would have grabbed them. If you are selling locally, then that would not be an issue.

That is all I can think of now but if something else comes to mind I will come back and add it.

 

The funny thing about staging at shows...

If I stage a piece, like put flowers into a vase, everyone looks at the flowers and ignores the vase! The vase will not sell. So I don't stage, it just doesn't work for me.

 

Appreciate all the comments. Specific tips are very helpful. I need to go back through and make some notes. What I am getting is that the market is tough for most glassware unless you can price it cheaply and/or market it creatively. No longer having shop space makes the latter difficult for me.

I know certain things such as Bacarrat and Lalique are no-brainers. I just don't see any of it here. See very little jadite but buy it if I do. Colored glass has been pretty soft here unless very cheap. Seems you can always sell cheap cobalt glass. The people here do not know Blenko or care much about Scandinavian glass. I buy them anyway. Viking and other similar glass only sells if very cheap here. Likewise with Murano. As with so much of what I buy, I have to market it outside my area. Ebay is not always the best choice of venue and shipping has to be taken into account with glass. I think there is going to be one heck of an auction of the best stuff somewhere someday. The rest, I hope I can make a few bucks from a garage sale.