First time you heard of milk glass, did you think about milk? Me too. Many think of the term as referring to glass used to store glass milk. Glass milk refers to glass that is translucent. They were first made in Italy in the 1500s. The manufacturing process includes the addition of arsenic or tin oxide to glass.
Milk Glass collection is a thing. They are a collectible that fetches quite a sum at auctions. Let me show you 25 rare milk glasses that are worth money.
Table of Contents
Top 25 Valuable Rare Milk Glass Pieces Price List
No. | Name | Year | Price |
1 | Vintage Bohemian Milk Glass With Stopper | 1980s | $245 |
2 | Rare Art Deco Odeon Clam Shell Milk Glass | 1920s | $282.55 |
3 | Rare Vintage Milk Glass Schoolhouse | 1920s | $395 |
4 | Pair Match Vintage Murano Milk Glass | 1960s | $2,500 |
5 | Silver Plated Milk Glass Artist Signed | 1950s | $230.29 |
6 | Vintage Fostoria Winburn Aqua Blue Milk Glass Creamer | 1950s | $316 |
7 | Vintage Milk Glass Pendant Light | 1960s | $232.69 |
8 | Antique French Art Nouveau Painted Milk Glass Oil Lamp | 1800s | $252.45 |
9 | Paris OMN Consolidated Milk Glass Hand-Painted by C.F. Monroe | 1800s | $225.37 |
10 | Fire King Modern Tulip Nesting Bowl Milk Glass | 1950s | $295.03 |
11 | Anchor Hocking Fire King Milk Glass | 1960s | $280 |
12 | Trifari Milk Glass Necklace & Earrings | 1940s | $397.81 |
13 | Fire King Set Of 4 Kitchen Aids | 1950s | $942.47 |
14 | Westmoreland Elegant Milk Glass Sawtooth Pattern | 1980s | $125.99 |
15 | Vintage Fenton Art Glass – Periwinkle Hobnail Ruffled Ginger Jar Vase | 1920s | $211.44 |
16 | Antique Rare White Translucent Milk Glass Shade Pendant Light | 1920s | $247 |
17 | Vintage Fenton Milk Glass Emerald Crest Cake Stand | 1950s | $277.69 |
18 | Vintage Tipp City Three Tier Bottle Spice Set | 1950s | $350 |
19 | Mid-Century White Swirl Murano Glass Mushroom Lamp | 1970s | $478.67 |
20 | Fenton Milk Glass Hobnail Piece Octagonal Punch Set | 1950s | $517.50 |
21 | Antique Rare Milk Glass Signed Gingerbread House | 1893 | $299.99 |
22 | Vintage Old Islamic Calligraphy Rare Hand Carved Brass Lassi Milk Glass | 1900-1940 | $276.62 |
23 | Pastel Pink Milk Glass Cake Plate | 1950s | $249 |
24 | Rare Table Lamp Teak Milk Glass Shades | 1950s | $399 |
25 | Artichoke Milk Glass Miniature Oil Lamp | 1800s | $299 |
1. Vintage Bohemian Milk Glass With Stopper
Year:1980s
Price:$245
The first on our list of valuable rare milk glass pieces is this beauty from the 80s. This is a bohemian milk glass with raised flowers and gold gilding on the body. It was made in the 1980s. It is vintage and rare. It is worth $245.
2. Rare Art Deco Odeon Clam Shell Milk Glass
Year: 1920s
Price: $282.55
This light shade hangs from the ceiling. It was made in the 1920s. It was named Odeon and was used in the whole British world in cinemas in the 20s and 30s. Many cinemas were called Odeon in those days so this lamp came to be called that too. It is worth $282.55.
3. Rare Vintage Milk Glass Schoolhouse
Year:1920 to 1930s
Price: $395
This rare piece of milk glass is from the 1920s. It is a pendant light with antique brass downrod. It is worth $395 on Etsy. It is 16 inch in diameter and 10 inch in height. It is rare and could be worth more in the future.
4. Pair Match Vintage Murano Milk Glass
Year:1960s
Price: $2,500
Milk glass has been used in many ways. In this case it is used in the making of this chandelier. It is 31 inches tall, 16.5 inches wide and 16.5 inches deep. Milk glass causes the light to be suffused which makes it ideal for indoor lighting. This one was made in the 1960s and is valued at $2,500.
5. Silver Plated Milk Glass Artist Signed
Year: 1950s
Price: $230.29
This piece of rare milk glass biscuit jar is artist signed. It is hand painted with orange and brown flowers while the handle and lid are silver plated, adorned beautifully with scrolls. It appears on Etsy here in good condition. It was made in the 1960s and is valued at $230.29.
6. Vintage Fostoria Winburn Aqua Blue Milk Glass Creamer
Year: 1950s
Price: $316
This milk glass was produced in the 1950s and is now worth $316. Two creamers here, each very valuable. The milk glasses are blue in color and designed like pineapples.
7. Vintage Milk Glass Pendant Light
Year:1960s
Price:$232.69
This Scandinavian pendant lamp is from the 1960s. It is made of milk glass. This milk glass is vintage and in good condition. It is worth $232.69.
8. Antique French Art Nouveau Painted Milk Glass Oil Lamp
Year: 1800-1900s
Price: $252.45
This is an oil lamp made of milk glass. The glass is painted with a floral pattern in pink, green, and yellow. It stands on four brass bun feet. This milk glass is valued $252.45
9. Paris OMN Consolidated Milk Glass Hand-Painted by C.F. Monroe
Year: 1898
Price:$225.37
This milk glass design was manufactured by Consolidated Lamp & Glass co which operated between the years 1893 to 1964. This company produced high quality lamps for years and this one here is now a valuable vintage lamp. It is valued at $225.37.
10. Fire King Modern Tulip Nesting Bowl Milk Glass
Year:1950s
Price:$295.03
This is a set of mixing bowls made out of milk glass posted for sale on Etsy. They were made in the 1950s. They are beautifully painted in red and black retro flowers. This one is called Modern Tulip on milk glass. It is valued for sale at $295.03.
11. Anchor Hocking Fire King Milk Glass
Year:1960s
Price:$280
This canister set is from Anchor Hocking Glass Company. These were made in the 1960s. They come with stamps of the company. They are highly valuable at $280.
12. Trifari Milk Glass Necklace & Earrings
Year:1940s
Price: $387.81
Milk glass also saw application in jewelries. These ones are from the 1940s, very valuable. Here’s a necklace and earrings made from milk glass. They are worth $387.81.
13. Fire King Set Of 4 Kitchen Aids
Year: 1950
Price:$942.47
Here is a four-set mixing bowl that was manufactured in 1950. It features paintings of tools like egg mixers and others. This is an Anchor Hocking Glass product. It is valued at $924.47.
14. Westmoreland Elegant Milk Glass Sawtooth Pattern
Year:1980s
Price: $125.99
This milk glass was handmade from Westmoreland Glass Company in Grapeville, Pennsylvania. The glass has the Westmoreland logo on the bottom. It is valued at $125.99
15. Vintage Fenton Art Glass – Periwinkle Hobnail Ruffled Ginger Jar Vase
Year:1920s
Price: $211.44
This glass was made by Fenton Glass Company in the 1920s. It is a periwinkle blue colored ruffled top ginger jar shaped vase. This is valued at $211.44.
16. Antique Rare White Translucent Milk Glass Shade Pendant Light
Year: 1920s
Price:$247
This shade is translucent, made from milk glass in the 1920s. It can be a fine addition to your home in many ways: as an antique collection or you could use it as a true lamp. It is valued at $247.
17. Vintage Fenton Milk Glass Emerald Crest Cake Stand
Year: 1950s
Price: $277.69
This antique glass was produced by Fenton in the 1950s. It is a cake stand with an emerald crest. This too can be a fine addition to your home or it can be used functionally for cake purposes. It is worth $277.69.
18. Vintage Tipp City Three Tier Bottle Spice Set
Year:1950s
Price: $350
This is a heap of vintage spice jars from the 1950s. They are in great condition as the picture suggests. They feature caps, paintings on the body of the glass. They are valued at $350.
19. Mid-Century White Swirl Murano Glass Mushroom Lamp
Year: 1970s
Price:$478.67
This Mushroom Swirl lamp is vintage from the 1970s. It is designed to create beautiful light when all the lines in the swirl come alive when turned on. This is valued at $478.67.
20. Fenton Milk Glass Hobnail Piece Octagonal Punch Set
Year:1953-1958
Price: $517.50
Fenton made this piece of beaties between the years 1953 to 1958. The set features small cups with handles and a large mixer with a long spoon in it. It is valued at $517.50
21. Antique Rare Milk Glass Signed Gingerbread House
Year: 1893
Price:$299.99
As you may have noted, milk glass has been formed into many molds. This is milk glass molded into a house. It tells the story of Hansel and Gretel. It features figures from the tale too. It is valued at $299.99.
22. Vintage Old Islamic Calligraphy Rare Hand Carved Brass Lassi Milk Glass
Year:1900-1940
Price:$280.69
One of the most intricately designed pieces on this list is this milk glass. It features a body wrought in calligraphy. The piece is valued at $280.69. It was made in the years between 1900 and 1940.
23. Pastel Pink Milk Glass Cake Plate
Year:1950s
Price:$249
This piece from Fenton is an unusual cake plate with a unique design. It was made in the 1950s and is now worth $249.
24. Rare Table Lamp Teak Milk Glass Shades
Year: 1950
Price:$399
The stem on this piece is thick wood but the glass at the top is milk glass. It was made in 1950 which makes it vintage. It is $399.
25. Artichoke Milk Glass Miniature Oil Lamp
Year:1800s
Price:$299
This is a lamp that’s come down from the 1800s to us. It is made from milk glass and painted on with pink and green colors. It is the last on this list and is valued at $299.
The History of Milk Glass
The making of milk glass dates back to the 1500sin Venice, Italy. It was introduced as an alternative to porcelain which was costlier. In those days porcelain was highly valued mostly because it was imported from Europe and China.
Since its creation milk glass has gone through an up and down trend in popularity. Milk Glass is the same as opaque glass and it was produced in America in the 1850s. Information about companies producing milk glass in the US (other than Boston and Sandwich Glass company which produced opaque glass between 1825and 1888) is now scarce.
Milk Glass gained popularity in the US in the 1880sand 1890sdown to the 20th century when it was made into plates with lacy edges, lattice edge or open border. It was also made into mugs, milk pitchers, bowls and more.
Today there’s information gathered about patterns of milk glass that was popular in the early days.
What Are The Patterns Of Milk Glass?
This pattern came about from the consistent use of a theme, or design that is repeated from piece to piece with only a little difference. The following are the patterns that were popular:
Paneled Grape
This was introduced in 1940 by the Westmoreland Glass Company. This pattern was made into a huge variety of designs over the years. From eBay
Hobnail
This pattern was made by Fenton Glass Company for many years between the mid and late 20th century. The hobnail pattern was introduced in the year 1939, then in 1959 they introduced the hobnail in white opaque glass. From eBay
Slag or Marble glass
This pattern was popular in the 1880s. It consisted of different opaque colors in pairs, like purple and white, brown and white, which are swirled together to create a marbled look. The most notable company to make this pattern is Challinor, Taylor & Company of Pittsburgh. From eBay
How To Identify Milk Glass
There are different kinds of glass. Some are transparent, others trap light. There are several ways to tell a milk glass from the lot. They are:
Milk Glass Is Mostly White
The majority of milk glass you see would be pure white. They also come in other colors like green, blue, pink and black. Other glasses come in this color as well but as long as the said glass is opaque, then it is milk glass.
Milk Glass Is Opaque
While glass allows light to go through it, milk glass blocks most of the light from penetrating. The only problem with this type of material is that it can become very hot in the sun because it absorbs heat better than clear glass does.
Milk Glass Come In Restricted Styles
You’ll usually find milk glass in creating decorative items like vases, jewelry like trinkets, pitchers, cake stands, and covered dishes. There are teacups, bowls, and dessert dishes as well. Sometimes you even find milk glass on doorknobs, lamps, and light fixtures.
How To Tell If Vintage Milk Glass Is Valuable
If you have milk glass in your home and you are interested in selling them, or you would love to pick up the hobby of collecting antique milk glass, then this is how to identify antique milk glass.
Age Of The Milk Glass
You have to begin with the date of the antique milk glass. Earlier milk glass is very valuable. Vintages from the 1960s are valuable too, but not as much as those from the 1800s.
- To know the age of the milk glass, check the glass against light and look for a rainbow of subtle colors.
- Most milk glasses with rough skins are newer than the ones with smoother bodies that are older.
- Older glasses have markings showing the name or logo of the manufacturer. Others feature the patent number.
The Manufacturer
You can tell the age of a milk glass by identifying the manufacturer of the glass first. You can do this by checking under the item. The names and years of manufacture of glass have been published in 20th Century Glass.
Condition
The condition of your milk glass has a huge impact on the value. Antiques with chips and pierces are less valuable while those in pristine condition attract more money. Before buying or selling the milk glass it is important to check for these imperfections.
Where To Find Antique Milk Glass
Milk Glass are rarer than most antiques because they are mostly decoration pieces. There are a few that are bowls and plates but even then, they are too fancy for every home. Still, you can find them in the following places.
Antique shops
Some antique shops where kitchenware is sold have antique milk glass too. What is important is identifying the milk glass for what it is. So check local stores in your area and you’d be surprised to find they turn up.
Online Auction
This includes websites like eBay and Etsy. Go to these sites and input in the search box milk glass and you will have more than a thousand entries that you can buy. eBay for example features the rarest and the later milk glass.
Yard sales
Folks who have milk glasses in abundance often put them out for sale when moving out from one home to the other. Items are also usually cheap at yard sales.
What Is Milk Glass Worth?
Many milk glasses that are featured in antique shops and yard sales are valued between $10 to $30. They even sell for less on some occasions. Some items sell for more than $500 to $1000 or more. The reason depends on factors outlined above: age, manufacturer, and condition.
Concluding Thoughts
Before discarding your milk glass as of little worth, be sure to make a comparison of your piece with what’s on eBay or Etsy. Also, remember that the value of antiques can also be sentimental and subjective. If your milk glass item meets all the value factors we’ve outlined then do not hesitate to put a price on it.
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