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How to Identify Antique Cut Glass

America came to the forefront of cut glass production when high-grade silica deposits were discovered there in the middle of the 19th century. Lasting only 50 years, until the start of World War I, this period became known as the Brilliant Period for American cut glass. Several "cutting houses," such as Liberty and The American Cut Glass Co., produced high-quality examples that can be very valuable today. Cutting house products, and antique cut glass samples in general, bear certain identifying characteristics.

Instructions

- 1
  Study one or two cutting houses and their patterns. Many cutting houses produced their own patterns of cut glass, with each pattern assigned a unique name or number.
- 2
  Learn the trademarks used by different cutting houses. Each cutting house marked its work with a unique trademark. Learning these can help you quickly identify the manufacturer and date of production of cut glass.
- 3
  Look at the quality of the glass. It should be clear and bright with crisp, deep cuts. Also, cut glass objects should have no visible mold marks or seams because these marks were polished out during the manufacturing process.
- 4
  Tap the glass with a finger. Antique cut glass should make a clear, long-lasting chime. American antique cut glass makes this sound because the majority of it was made from lead crystal.

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