Page 8 - glass-section-23

LOOKING

AT GLASS?

Identifying Glass In The Age of The Internet

Above, this c. 1900 amberina vase is likely from
By Glass Specialist Peter Wade New England Glass, but has no marks, does have a
pontil, and still being researched.

t’s a beautiful, sunny day Know the History of Your Glass – Understanding the history of glass
and you decide to go out objects will help you on your quest to identify a new find. Apply what
Ifor a ride and stop by an you know about the piece and see where it fits into glass history and
estate sale. You find a lovely world geography. Where the glass is from can also indicate how old it is
piece of glass and buy it. You and who made it.
take your treasure home and
display it and enjoy it. But, Make a List of Visual Indicators – Build a list of what you observe about
sometime soon, you may the piece of glass in question. Questions to ask yourself are: What is it
begin to wonder about this similar to? What does it look like? Does it have a pattern? Are there any
piece as you show it off to marks or labels? Does the glass have seams? How would you describe
your friends and they ask you its form? What are its glass characteristics? What are its design
questions about your find. characteristics (hobnail vs. cameo glass vs. lines vs. floral vs. enamel,
Was it handmade? What Opaline glass large dresser box etc.)? What is its age? Where do you think it came from? Did the place
makes it special? Where did it with enameled decoration, you acquired it from give you any clues about its provenance? For
come from? Who made it? Is likely Pairpoint, or Continental. market valuation, what are its condition and rarity? What if it’s
it valuable? No marks, but obviously handmade. damaged? (Note: Damaged glass significantly reduces value, but, if it’s
You’ve just arrived in a world inhabited by many glass collectors who rare, it can still be quite valuable.)
are passionate about the glass they own. Now, it’s your turn to embark
on a quest to discover more about what you’ve found. Take Pictures – Today, you can
Google a photo and like magic
YOUR TRANSFORMATION images that are similar to the ones
You will quickly find that your knowledge will grow as you you take pop up and you can
transition from being a casual buyer to becoming an informed buyer. In click to see if there is any valuable
the past, glass collectors would build a home reference library to turn to information attached to the picture.
for answers to these questions. Today, the home reference library
now resides on the internet, and now glass collectors are becoming THINGS TO CONSIDER
glass researchers. Production & Labor
All of that reference material you had in your personal library It is important to understand the
didn’t make it online. You will have to be imaginative in your searching relationship these two have when it
techniques. comes to making glass. During the
It would be so nice if there was an easy way to discern what exactly late 1800s, the glass marketplace
you have in your hands by making just a few clicks. But that has really was mostly made up of small arti-
never been the case. While the internet provides a plethora of information, san-style glass studios. Glass was
this does not necessarily mean it is correct. Many would say there is a made individually, one at a time. A
lack of current reference material on identifying glass on the internet. lot of time and labor went into each
I could go on and on about these problems. I haven’t even discussed piece, which directly equated to the
the many concerns collectors have with intentional fakes, forged Garage sale find. purchase price. The Industrial
signatures, etc. The important question here is, what are the solutions? Papillon Oil Spot in Candia color Revolution brought this cost down,
Where do you go to identify your particular piece of glass? on yellow vaseline glass. making glass more affordable to the
The owner knew it was Loetz. everyday person, but was the quality
GATHER YOUR It pays to ask questions! of the artist’s touch still there?
EVIDENCE This vase is unmarked, with Many glassmakers went out of
a polished pontil.
Because the amount of Circa 1898 to 1905. business or were purchased by larger
information available to you on companies as the lower-cost compe-
the internet is so vast, the first tition took market share away. How many glass companies are still
thing you have to do is to around today? Not many.
narrow down your research to a Currently, studio and artisan art glass is experiencing a resurgence
manageable level. Plus, you because it still is a viable business model, albeit on a smaller scale. The
have to set limits on how far you
will go in researching your glass. Garage Sale find. No marks, c. 1900. Not found in the Baccarat catalog of the era.
Your time is valuable, too. Eventually identified as Baccarat Bambous Tors oval inkwell.

6 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles