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 g… [more]

Glass Knobs from Sandwich and Elsewhere

Just as brass handles, keyhole escutcheons and turned buttons replaced wooden knobs and wrought-iron handles… [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 ag… [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 orig… [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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Clubs & Associations: Glassware


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Abp Cut Glass Bowl Rare J Hoare$860.00 Ends Friday 13 bids 46 watchers
Fine Cranberry Cut To Clear Abp Cut Glass Bowl, Nr$560.00 Ends Tuesday 10 bids 39 watchers
Mint Condition Smoky Topaz Ruba Rombic Cream & Sugar$249.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 20 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Crystal Early Libbey Abp$248.50 Ends in 17 hours 15 bids 24 watchers
4 Edinburgh Crystal Thistle Claret Wine Glasses Signed$246.49 Ends in 19 hours 4 bids 8 watchers
4 Edinburgh Crystal Thistle Water Goblets All Signed$245.49 Ends in 19 hours 5 bids 9 watchers
Rogaska Gallia Cut Crystal Brandy Sniffers (6)$239.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 1 watcher
Dorflinger American Brilliant Cut Glass Era Museum Pc. $152.50 Ends Monday 10 bids 15 watchers
Sgnd Abp American Brilliant Cut Glass Bowl J Hoare$150.00 Ends in 18 hours 6 bids 18 watchers
Germany Cut Glass Silverplate Claret Jug Ewer $150.00 Ends in 20 hours 2 bids
8" Bowl Signed Hawkes Gravic Iris Abp Cut Glass Nr$150.00 Ends Monday 6 bids 23 watchers
Swarovski Malachite Kingfishers - Item Number 623323$149.46 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid 6 watchers
Rare Hoare Monarch Cut Glass Handled Mug$127.50 Ends Friday 7 bids 32 watchers
American Brilliant Period Hawkes Cut Glass Round Tray$127.50 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 27 watchers
Waterford Colleen Cut Crystal Flared Bowl/centrepiece $124.57 Ends in 9 hours 2 bids 10 watchers
Abp Cut Glass Handled Nappy In The Rare Canoe Pattern$123.50 Ends in 19 hours 7 bids 36 watchers
Libbey Abp Cut Glass Colonna Master Salts Signed Pair$119.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 17 watchers
Edinburgh Crystal Thistle Cut White Wine Glass X 2$119.00 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 8 watchers
William Yeoward Crystal Lulu Cocktail Shaker - Boxed$114.60 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 4 watchers
Scarce Queen Victoria Jubilee 1887 Cut Glass Bottle$107.55 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 24 watchers
Rare Pitcher & 4 Tumblers Libbey Wistaria Cut Glass Nr$105.83 Ends Monday 2 bids 26 watchers
Swarovski Crystal Flamingo$104.64 Ends in 9 hours 5 bids 28 watchers
Dorflinger ~ Cut Glass ~ Rare Pink Overlay Vase ~ Wow$103.50 Ends in 20 hours 2 bids 25 watchers
Abp Cut Glass Very Well Cut 10" Cluster Pattern Plate$102.50 Ends in 19 hours 3 bids 20 watchers
Fantastic Victorian Cut Glass Console Bowl$100.00 Ends Monday 2 bids 10 watchers
Rare Cut Glass 2 Part Cake Plate, Aberdean By Jewel Abp$100.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 14 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Sandwich Tray$99.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 12 watchers
Rogaska Crystal Champagne Flutes Glasses Decanter Queen$99.99 Ends in 14 hours 1 bid 8 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Crystal Pairpoint Whiskey$99.76 Ends in 17 hours 9 bids 39 watchers
Waterford "hibernia" Cut Crystal Small Handled Bowl $99.65 Ends in 8 hours 1 bid 8 watchers
Fab Val St Lambert Crystal Cut Wine & Port Glasses Vsl$99.00 Ends in 18 hours 5 bids 8 watchers
Abp Cut Glass Signed " Elsmere" Libbey Blow Out Bowl$99.00 Ends in 19 hours 1 bid 28 watchers
Swarovski Crystal Puffins Approx 6cm Tall $96.33 Ends in 12 hours 7 bids 16 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Biscuit Jar$89.99 Ends Saturday 1 bid 2 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Unusual Blank Vase$88.10 Ends in 18 hours 4 bids 24 watchers
Mint Coloured Swarovski Silver Crystal Baby Love Birds$86.80 Ends in 12 hours 4 bids 25 watchers
Am. Brilliant Deep Cut Crystal Glass Vase 4 Lbs.$84.01 Ends in 8 hours 2 bids 20 watchers
Six Royal Brierley Crystal 'bruce' Tall Hock Glasses$81.38 Ends in 10 hours 1 bid 5 watchers
12" Abp Canastota Cut Glass Diamond Poinsettia Vase $77.00 Ends in 18 hours 5 bids 13 watchers
Ronneby Art Glass Swan Signed To Base 4" High Mint$76.42 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 2 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Scalloped Bowl 11" Dia$75.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 4 watchers
Thistle Pattern Edinburgh Crystal Cordial Decanter$75.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 13 watchers
Antique Brilliant Cut Crystal Glass Nut Dish Signed Fry$74.99 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 3 watchers
Waterford "glandore" Cut Crystal Large 6" Rose Bowl$74.74 Ends in 7 hours 8 bids 7 watchers
Exquisite American Brilliant Cut Glass 9.5" Deep Bowl $69.99 Ends in 10 hours 1 bid 20 watchers
Abp Cut Glass 16" J.d. Bergen Vernon Pattern$66.89 Ends Monday 3 bids 14 watchers
Superb Pair Of Waterford Colleen Champagne Flutes$66.44 Ends Thursday 13 bids 14 watchers
2 Vintage Thistle Pattern Edinburgh Crystal 4" Glasses$66.10 Ends in 4 hours 8 bids 16 watchers
Keith Murray Stevens & Williams Clear Crystal Bowl Mint$61.45 Ends in 15 hours 7 bids 20 watchers
Good Vintage Swarovski Crystal Giraffe Figurine In Box$61.44 Ends Thursday 15 bids 23 watchers
American Brilliant Cut Glass Crystal Fine Pitcher Abp$59.98 Ends Sunday 4 bids 24 watchers
Rare Stuart Crystal Wine Carafe Arundel$58.13 Ends Monday 1 bid 5 watchers
Harvard Pattern Cut Glass Ice Bucket / Wine Cooler$54.98 Ends in 18 hours 1 bid 5 watchers
Rare Richardson's Crystal Decanter 1920s$54.79 Ends in 6 hours 6 bids 3 watchers
John Rocher "circa"red Wine Glasses By Waterford$54.41 Ends in 13 hours 3 bids 3 watchers

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Recent News: Cut Glass

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