Cut Glass

About Antique Cut Glass

While cut glass has been produced for thousands of years, it reached a peak of popularity during the late 19th century in the so-called "Brilliant" period, which lasted until the early 1900s. Billiant period cut glass, a popular wedding gift at the time, was heavy leaded glass, intricately cut with geometric patterns and prisms.

Cut glass became desirable because it reflected the light across the dinner table. During the American Brilliant period, it was referred to as "rich cut glass." It was very expensive and showed the social standing of the owners...

Most companies specialized in either making or cutting glass, and only a few did both. Some of the most prominent cut glass companies of the time were the Dorflinger Glass Company, Hawkes, the Libby Glass Company, H. C. Fry and Company, Strauss, and J. Hoare and Company. Each manufacturer had their own patented patterns made from a series of motifs, such as Hobstar, strawberry diamond, and punty cut. The rarest or most expensive patterns are Aztec, Panel, and Trellis.

Cut glass often came in sets. For example, decanters came with goblets and tumblers, candlesticks came in sets of two or four, and berry bowls came with six smaller bowls. Other cut glass collectibles include ice cream trays, casserole dishes, cake plates, and fingerbowls.

During the Edwardian period, cut glass became lighter, thinner, and engraved. The Brilliant cut glass was no longer as fashionable or desirable. Cut glass decreased in popularity during World War I, and with Prohibition, many companies, such as Dorflinger, went out of business.

Cut glass is very fragile and sensitive to heat. Collectors should also be wary of fake cut glass, which started to materialize in the 1980s. Authenticity can often be determined by a black light test.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With American Cut Glass Collector Barbara Meek

I started collecting cut glass when I was about 18. My sisters were married, and during the summer, I would go out … [more]

Glass Knobs from Sandwich and Elsewhere

Just as brass handles, keyhole escutcheons and turned buttons replaced wooden knobs and wrought-iron handles on Eng… [more]

An Interview With Early American Pattern Glass Collector Elaine Henderson

My mother was our inspiration for collecting pattern glass. She collected it, and she died at a very young age. My … [more]

An Interview With Carnival Glass Collectors Glen and Stephen Thistlewood

Our newest book is actually the fully revised and expanded second edition of our first book. It came out originally… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

American Cut Glass Association

American Cut Glass Association

A great reference on ‘American Brilliant Cut Glass’ (produced between 1876 and 1914), this site features a stri… [read review or visit site]

David Doty's Carnival Glass Website

David Doty's Carnival Glass Website

David Doty's incredible, comprehensive and colorful Carnival Glass reference site, with over 1,600 pages and 4,000 … [read review or visit site]

National Depression Glass Association

National Depression Glass Association

A great starting point for collectors interested in Depression glass. Features in-depth reference articles on topic… [read review or visit site]

Milk Glass Collectors Society

Milk Glass Collectors Society

This excellent milk glass reference site is definitely not for the lactose intolerant. Includes seven high resoluti… [read review or visit site]

Carnival-glass.net

Carnival-glass.net

This extensive reference on 'carnival glass,' which became popular in the early 1900s, is divided into three sectio… [read review or visit site]

Pattern Glass School

Pattern Glass School

If you need schooling on Victorian-era pressed glass tableware aka EAPG (Early American Pattern Glass) aka Pattern … [read review or visit site]

The Charleton Line

The Charleton Line

Michael and Lori Palmer's site dedicated to the hand painted decorations of Abels, Wasserberg and Company, known as… [read review or visit site]


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Rare 1910 J Hoare Corning Abp Brilliant Cut Glass Bowl$1,025 Ends Sunday 9 bids 87 watchers
Signed Clark Large Cut Glass Vase, Cypress Pattern$800.00 Ends in 7 hours 29 bids 53 watchers
Rare Large Tyrone Crystal Boyne Lamp N/r Irish$324.72 Ends Sunday 25 bids 25 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass 18" Ice Cream Tray, Bergen$265.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 29 watchers
Mt. Washington Cut Glass Celery Vase Corinthian Pattern$263.88 Ends Sunday 9 bids 55 watchers
Antique Dorflinger Abp Cut Glass Set 6 Cordial Wine $225.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 4 watchers
Rare Pair C.1850 Bohemian White Overlay Vases 22 Cms H.$221.07 Ends Sunday 1 bid 16 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Napoleon Hawkes 10" Plate$212.50 Ends in 1 hour 5 bids 59 watchers
8-1/4" Bowl W/ Top-notch Sunbursts Abp Cut Glass Nr Wow$202.63 Ends Monday 19 bids 53 watchers
Pitcher Signed Hawkes Brunswick Pat. Abp Cut Glass Nr$181.50 Ends Monday 11 bids 45 watchers
American Brilliant Cute Cologne, Hawkes W/shreve Silver$175.00 Ends in 21 hours 1 bid 12 watchers
Abp Cut Glass Fine J Hoare Monarch Pattern Punch Cups$155.50 Ends Sunday 4 bids 14 watchers
Swarovski Crystal, Wonders Of The Sea, Harmony, Mib$152.46 Ends Sunday 1 bid 6 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Lrg Bowl Daisy Butterfly $150.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 6 watchers
Rare Clark Cut Glass Bowl, Windermere Pattern $145.99 Ends Saturday 6 bids 18 watchers
Swarovski Silver Crystal Pineapple 23/8in Block Logo £1$138.05 Ends Sunday 27 bids 48 watchers
Swarovski Crystal, Camel, Mib$129.59 Ends Sunday 1 bid 2 watchers
Mini Flower Center Vase Signed Clark Abp Cut Glass Nr$104.50 Ends Monday 9 bids 42 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Vintage Boudoir Lamp$99.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 3 watchers
American Cut Glass Dorflinger Parisian Butter Pat$99.50 Ends Monday 7 bids 6 watchers
Swarovski Crystal, Malachite Kingfishers, Mib$97.06 Ends Sunday 4 bids 7 watchers
Swarovski Crystal, Baby Lovebirds. Mib$91.48 Ends Sunday 4 bids 7 watchers
Abp American Brilliant Cut Glass 7 Pieces Ice Cream Set$90.00 Ends in 6 hours 1 bid 9 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Crystal Tall Decanter Abp$86.00 Ends Sunday 11 bids 20 watchers
American Cut Glass Dorflinger Marlboro Butter Pat$80.00 Ends Monday 2 bids 7 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Crystal Fine Detail Bowl$78.00 Ends Sunday 13 bids 42 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Pitcher, Pairpoint Silsbee$77.89 Ends in 19 hours 14 bids 34 watchers
Abp American Brilliant Cranberry Cut Glass To Clear, Nr$73.00 Ends in 7 hours 2 bids 21 watchers
Stunning Antique American Brilliant Cut Glass Bowl$71.00 Ends Monday 10 bids 8 watchers
Edinburgh Cut Crystal Thistle Pattern Liquor Decanter$70.67 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 15 watchers
Edinburgh Crystal Thistle Pattern Cut Sugar Bowl$70.12 Ends Sunday 12 bids 14 watchers
Rare Sgd Hoare American Brilliant Cut Glass Dresser Box$70.00 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 27 watchers
Rare Abp American Brilliant Cut Glass 8"dia.compote #2$69.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 18 watchers
Great Cut Glass Cranberry Cut To Clear Wine Glass, Abp$64.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 19 watchers
Reed & Barton Cut Glass Figural Silverplate Centerpiece$57.99 Ends Sunday 7 bids 33 watchers
Abp Intaglio American Brilliant Cut Glass Libbey Signed$57.88 Ends in 6 hours 5 bids 13 watchers
Honesdale Cut Glass Vase 8.5" High - Nr$56.89 Ends Monday 4 bids 17 watchers
Superb Pair Of Royal Brierley Honeysuckle Large Goblets$54.89 Ends Sunday 8 bids 13 watchers
Waterford Crystal John Rocha Signature Champagne Flutes$53.36 Ends Sunday 8 bids 16 watchers
Antique Hawkes Abp Engraved Cut Decanter 6 Cordials$51.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 10 watchers
1 Edinburgh Crystal Old Fashioned Thistle Glasses$51.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 9 watchers
8 Hawkes Cut And Engraved Art Glass Abp Bowls Signed$50.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 5 watchers
Brilliant Vintage Cut Glass Punch Bowl W/pedestal$50.00 Ends in 7 hours 2 bids 20 watchers
Comet Brilliant Cut Glass Bowl Or Dish ~~ Rare Comet!!!$49.99 Ends in 3 hours 1 bid 16 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Kimberly Pat. Decanter $49.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 5 watchers
Pair Tyrone Crystal Cubis Goblets Boxed New ~ Glasses$47.26 Ends Sunday 6 bids 4 watchers
Set 5 Stuart Crystal Glengarry Whisky Tumblers Glasses$47.26 Ends Sunday 5 bids 11 watchers
8 Antique Engraved & Cut Glass Tumblers Signed Walsh$47.25 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 8 watchers
Swarovski Briefbeschwerer Paperweight Pinky Mo Signed$47.25 Ends Monday 2 bids 19 watchers
Glass Suction Lifter Glass Handling Tool$46.00 Ends in 9 hours 1 bid 8 watchers
Edwardian Oak & Brass Triple Tantalus Case$45.89 Ends Sunday 4 bids 30 watchers
Pair Of Waterford Lismore Salt & Pepper Shakers$45.72 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 6 watchers
Stunning Vintage Irish Waterford Crystal Shaving Set$45.72 Ends Monday 3 bids 11 watchers

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