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How to Find the Value of My Milk Glass Dishes

The term "milk glass" originated in the 1500s to describe a style of glass originating in Venice, Italy. In America, milk glass produced during the early 20th century came to be a hallmark of the wealth and privilege of the American elite. Collecting milk glass can be challenging, as there are many artificial facsimiles that are in fact "milk glass," but are not necessarily collectibles. Determine the value of your milk glass by identifying the date of production, manufacturer and determining whether it is a limited edition piece, which would increase its rarity and value.

Things You'll Need

Collector's society contact information
Milk glass items
Production catalog

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase an antique catalog from milk glass manufacturers known to produce pieces during the period in which your piece may originate. The following companies were the most sought after producers of milk glass during the 1920s through 1950s: The Westmoreland Specialty Glass Co., The United States Glass Co., The L.E. Smith Glass Co., Duncan Glass, Fostoria Glass Co., Hazel Atlas and The Federal Glass Co.
- 2
  Look for items produced in the catalog after you've determined whether there is a seal on the piece. Match your item to the pieces listed in the catalog. Sometimes molds would be produced without the manufacturer's seal in attempts at copyright infringement. Copyrights weren't as strictly enforced then as they are now, so you may have a genuine piece of milk glass, whether it has a seal or not.
- 3
  Attend a local collector's society or visit their website to print a list of the most recently purchased and sold items. Two limited edition items that are difficult to find are Fenton crested bowls and Westmoreland bowls. They are valued at hundreds of dollars apiece depending on their quality and level of preservation. Pieces from the 1700s are also rare and difficult to find intact. If you think you are in possession of one of these pieces, take it to a local collector's society or antique mall to have it appraised. Do not sell it without an authenticity certificate.

Antiques