Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Check for a trademark cut into the glass or attached on a paper label. Determining the manufacturer will help the collector to search the right catalog. Well-known glass houses include Hawkes, a winner at the Paris Exposition in 1889 for their Grecian and Chrysanthemum patterns, and Libby, recognized at the 1903 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago for their Columbia and Isabella patterns. Because early pieces faced heavy competition from European manufacturers, glasscutters often left their work unmarked in order to keep their goods indistinguishable from English, French and Irish glassware and allow them to charge more for their products.
Obtain a catalog or reputable volume on the subject of cut glass from the "brilliant period." Try to find a vintage catalog from a glass house that displayed examples of patterned glass. Compare the patterns on your glass to those listed in the catalog. The American Cut Glass Association website offers reprints of more than 30 vintage catalogs for the purpose of education and identification.
Consult a collector forum. Post pictures of your piece on a collector website like American Brilliant Period Cut Glass. Individuals with unidentified cut glass can upload their pictures and an optional explanation to a "gallery of unknowns," where experts and seasoned collectors may recognize the pattern or offer advice about continuing research. Viewers can also browse through the galleries of identified objects to compare known patterns.
Look for similar patterns at antique shops, swap meets or estate sales. This may be the most enjoyable option for collectors who enjoy the search as much as the identification process. Many cut-glass pieces were manufactured as part of a collection. For example, punch bowls were designed with the same pattern as their cup counterparts. Explore the possibility that the owner of a matching piece can identify the pattern for you.