I Became a Vintage Glassware Dork, and You Can Too!

If you've ever been enthralled with vintage glass-perhaps your mom's collection of Depression glass, or your grandmother's flint glass goblets-you may have wondered how you can learn more about vintage and antique glass. You probably thought that you had to have tons of specialized training to end up like an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow, too. But-- learning about vintage glass can be accomplished for free, without the help of an expert, with resources available to anyone.

I became interested in vintage glassware as a teenager, during my thrift store travels. I was more interested in porcelain and china at the time, but I saw enough beautiful glassware to eventually pique my interest, so I bought a few things I liked. In my twenties, I began frequenting thrift stores again. I discovered that I had a good eye for saleable pieces, and I soon had a thriving eBay business. I sold all kinds of vintage items, but my passion was vintage kitchen glassware from the twenties to the fifties. Soon, I wasn't just spotting thrift stores treasures; I was identifying them by manufacturer name and date, too. How did I do it?

Start at the library. Before you invest any money in expensive glassware encyclopedias and pricing guides, check out your local library. Don't be intimidated: these books have lots and lots of pictures! Check for the word "glassware" in the library catalog, and that should take you to the antiques and collectibles section of nonfiction. Browse around, grab a stack of books, and sit down for a few minutes as you find the ones that interest you. A good "starter author" is Gene Florence. He's written quite a few books about kitchen glassware and Depression glass, and his books are easy to read and aesthetically pleasing, with lots of color pictures.