Antique Glass
Nothing can surpass the beauty of antique glass. The
translucent effect of light shining through the body of a delicate
and fragile piece, the angles refracting the light through all the
colours of the rainbow is stunning to behold. It's no wonder
that glass has survived through the centuries with no other
material coming even close to its sheer durability and allure.
Because of the vast amount of different types of antique glass
available, most collectors tend to specialise in either a
particular era of glass, maker or style. Whatever type you
lean towards, always remember that unless a piece is particularly
rare then you should be looking for perfection. Whilst minor
nicks can be ground out by a restorer, large chips and cracks
should generally be avoided at all costs. Even ground out
imperfections can have a great effect on the value of a piece,
depreciating it by half or even more in price.
Glass has been around for over 3,500 years, but records show
that production in the UK begun around the year 1226. The
basic constituent of glass is sand mixed with an alkaline
flux. This is heated into a molten form where it can be blown
through a rod and then sculptured into the required shapes.
Glass blowing is a skilled and precise art which over the years
has seen the production of the most beautifully intricate
pieces. Not only is glass blown into the desired form, but
etching, enamelling and engraving of the finished pieces created
some truly stunning works of art.
In the later part of the 18th century, lead was
introduced into the glass mix to create what we know as 'lead
crystal.' This led to a much denser and clearer glass making
process that was not only used in tableware but also mirrors and
chandeliers.
Pressed Glass
During the 19th century the technique of press
moulding become popular, meaning that glass pieces could be
produced far more quickly and at less expense. This brought
quality glass within the realms of many more people, and some of
the most famous names in glass production heralded from this era.
Names such as Walter Crane, Rene Lalique and Louis Comfort Tiffany
are now themselves engraved into the history of high quality and
superb glass production.
Art Deco Glass
Whilst not strictly an antique (to qualify as an antique a piece
should be more than 100 years old), Art Deco glass is an extremely
sort after field of collection. The use of bold colours,
stylised lines and geometric patterns make Art Deco glass extremely
well suited to today's modern interior designs. Some of the
major Art Deco glass designers were Daum, Orrefors and Sowerby with
original sculptures being greatly prized and very often commanding
high prices.
Collecting antique glass is extremely satisfying, both as a
hobby and an investment. The thrill of finding a rare piece
is matched only by the satisfaction of being able to feast your
eyes upon it on a daily basis. The wonderful thing about
decorating your home with quality pieces of antique glass is the
extension of your own personal style. Whichever type you
choose, you can be sure that your antique glass collection will
provide a timeless and much talked about focal point.