A Vintage Glassware Study
How to know if it's a yes!
I’ve loved collecting vintage glassware for years, and along the way, I’ve learned a lot about makers, styles, and techniques. I tend to gravitate towards pieces that function well in everyday life and add a bit of pizzazz to a space.
Over time, I’ve definitely bought my fair share of cute vases and dishes that never got used, or just didn’t feel quite right no matter how I styled them. Honestly, I’ve come to accept that’s just how you learn your own preferences — you’ve gotta work it!
Shopping in person at estate sales, antique shops and fairs—and then following my curiosity online to study a category deeper has helped trained my eye.
Now, I can spot quality, rarity, and usability instantly. Last weekend at the Alameda Antique Faire, I scored a few fresh pieces that inspired me to put together this guide of what I’ve learned and some of my favorite makers and terms to search for. Plus, a couple beauties that I currently have saved….
Favorite Makers I Keep An Eye On
Please note some of these are for admiration and others for reasonable purchases! You know me, always after that perfect mix of high and low.
Heisey – An early 1900s American company. Great for interesting cut patterns in glasses, bowls, dishes, and vases. Here’s a cutie candy dish.
Tiffany & Co. – Was (and still is!) popular for luxury gifting. Their glassware is elegant and also surprisingly attainable online. I have this votive holder with little hearts on the rim. Also I’m obsessed with this bowl.
Waterford – Known for high-quality cut crystal. I love their vases, glasses, and frames. So many sparkly motifs to explore!
Baccarat – Prestigious French crystal since the 1700s. Pieces feel like statement works of art. I love the fluid shape of this vase.
Barovier & Toso – Handcrafted Murano glass from Italy, known for signature techniques (like the bubble vase above) and vibrant colors. This is one to drool over.
Lalique – Famous for matte frosted finishes, often sculptural and feminine in feeling. How could you not be obsessed with these tumblers?
Orrefors – Swedish craftsmanship I adore. Simple forms with thoughtful details like squiggles or waves. Most of my vases and candle holders are by them. This is the squiggle vase I use the most. Someone needs these daisy candle holders!
Libbey – Affordable American glass for everyday use— endless styles and colors to sift through. These are the blue flower glasses I have.
Mikasa – Clean modern designs, I have this wave dish.
Steuben – American crystal with clean designs and an insanely high refractive index so they shimmer like rainbows in the light. You have to see it to believe it!
Fostoria – Elegant American stemware and tableware, often with soft patterns. I recently scored a set of these green goblets.
Fenton – Collectible American glass, I love them for textured hobnail finds and bright colored designs like this Murrhina technique.
And sometimes, the obscure or unsigned pieces are the best finds—trust your instinct! If you love it, you love it and that’s all that matters.
Styles & Techniques I Love Exploring
Murano – The Murano glass world is massive, with tons of small makers. I love all the colorful finds and interesting techniques.
Millefiore – Means “a thousand flowers” in Italian. You’ll see tiny mosaic-like patterns in paperweights, bowls, and vases. How cute is this?
Tutti Frutti – Inspired by Millefiori but more playful, with colorful ribbons and confetti-like patterns. This vase is fun!
Sommerso & Latticino – Other Murano techniques worth perusing, like this.
Bubble Glass - Glass that intentionally traps air bubbles inside as part of the design like this and this.
Crystal – High-quality glass that’s heavier, clearer, and sparkly. Cut crystal adds extra elegance and glam!
Depression Glass – Affordable, mass-produced colored glass made mainly in the U.S. during the 1920s–40s.
Handblown Glass – Shaped by artisans blowing air into molten glass. Each piece is therefore unique with more organic shapes.
Frosted Glass – Soft, matte, slightly opaque surfaces, like this.
Czech/ Bohemian Glass – Known for deep cut patterns and vibrant colors. Someone needs this vase!
Milk Glass – Opaque white (sometimes pale colored) glass.
Hobnail Glass – Glass with a raised, textured pattern of small bumps or “nubs”.
Shapes I Reach for Again and Again
Glasses – Water glasses and true wine glasses like goblets and stemware. Nice to also have are martini glasses, tumblers, and champagne flutes. Sets of 6–8 are ideal, but sometimes 2 is all you really need.
Vases – I rarely use tiny openings unless it’s a bud vase. I mostly purchase larger shapes for tulips, peonies, hydrangeas, roses, or mums- the flowers I buy most often. Globe vases, big inverted vases, and anything with a wide opening for unruly blooms are my favorites. Currently love this one and this one.
Living Room Wares – I’ve collected a mix of candle holders for votives, candlesticks, and 3–4” pillar candles. I’m always on the lookout for small catch-alls to corral small things like keys, matchbooks, pens, dainty jewelry, lipsticks, hair ties, palo santo, q-tips, and makeup brushes. I also love glass picture frames (though they’re a bit rarer). And one of my dream finds is a wine bottle coaster—I just haven’t stumbled on “the one” yet (something like this).
Kitchen Wares – Tricky to collect without overdoing it. Look for serving trays you’ll actually use, bowls for salads and sides, little stacking snack dishes, cake stands, and ice buckets (which can always dual-purpose as a vase).
Collecting glassware has taught me so much about practicality and discernment. Amazing vintage glass is everywhere at all price points—it’s so easy to get awestruck. But if your gut says yes, definitely grab it while you can!
Have you found anything worth mentioning recently?
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That layout is beyond! And that tutti frutti vase is so much fun!