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FINE CUT GLASS & CRYSTAL:
The Care and Cleaning of Fine Cut Glass

   There is as much difference in the color of glass, meaning only transparent colorless glass or crystal, as there is in the color of diamonds. The beauty and value of antique Glass or Crystal, just like in the case of Precious Stones, are measured very largely by its perfection.

   Fine antique glass should be of a purity that practically renders it invisible without any trace of yellow or green cast or opacity. Sometimes it will have a slightly bluish white color. Antique Glassware that otherwise seems clear with respect to its color when seen by itself will often appear at a decided disadvantage when placed beside a really fine piece.

   Modern detergents and the use of a good bottle brush will generally suffice for removing the usual discoloration caused by the contents of decanters, cruets, perfume bottles, etc. Where cloudiness or stain persists, many remedies have been suggested and tried with varying degrees of success. Among them:

  • The use of Polident (used for cleaning false teeth)
  • Liquid Plumber (used for clearing clogged drains - highly caustic and requires careful handling)
  • Adding uncooked rice to vinegar and shaking vigorously
  • Using a tea bag with vinegar and letting it soak for 24 hours
  • Allowing chopped potato peel with a small amount of water to stand in a bottle overnight
   Oiliness may be removed with alcohol left in for about 15 minutes. In each instance, the item should be thoroughly rinsed and dried afterwards. Strips of cloth may be inserted into bottles to dry them and then removed with a heavy wire or hook.

   To obtain the best results, polishing was done in three stages. First, it was done with wooden wheels fed with pumice, stone and water; then brush or wool wheels with the same preparation, and lastly cork or felt wheels with finely compounded putty powder. About the turn of the century, the acid bath, quicker and less expensive came into use for polishing. It was hand-burnishing, however, that gave the superb brilliance down to the smallest detail.

   Working the lather into the cuttings with a soft brush, or toothbrush will enhance the brilliance of the deeper and more intricate incisions. The glass should then be dried without draining on a soft towel. When perfectly dry, the cut surfaces should be gone over again with a clean dry brush. A soft, lint free cloth should then be used to give it a high polish.

   Antique Glass which continues to cloud up after cleaning and rinsing is known as "sick glass." It is caused by the formation and separation of crystals due to imperfect fusion of the metal or too high an alkaline content in the making. It can be professionally polished off and then "glass wax" applied if the area can be reached. Frequent applications of the wax will be helpful in delaying further deterioration. Unfortunately, this remedy is usually not practical where it is needed most - in the cleansing of bottle type containers.

   The use of ammonia or strongly alkaline soaps on antique Glass or Crystal should be avoided. Extreme and sudden changes of temperature may also be harmful. Before using ice-cream platters, punch bowls, sherbet glasses or other pieces designed for frozen foods or chilled beverages, the glass should be allowed to stand for a few minutes in a cold place or held under a jet of cold water.

   Cut glass with sterling silver mountings was once very popular. To this very day, many people consider the use of sterling articles with cut glass as the basis for the most elegant table settings. However, each section must be carefully cleaned using a different ‘set of rules’. For information and useful advice on cleaning Metal items, including Antique Sterling Silver or Antique Silverplate, please see another article on this website. In general, in cases of antiques that are made of a mix of different materials, please be careful so as not to have certain chemicals or cleaning agents suitable for one material come in contact with other parts.

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ADVICE on IDENTIFYING & APPRAISING ANTIQUES
SHEFFIELD SILVER CANDLESTICKS - A certain misapprehension has always surrounded the subject of silver from Sheffield. Popular belief holds that it is the same as Sheffield plate. This belief is justified up to a point, for there certainly was an interlocking of interests between silver from Sheffield and Sheffield plate, as the story of Sheffield candlesticks shows. But silver hallmarked with the Sheffield town mark of a crown is of Sterling standard (see photos), while the "plate" is a thin layer of silver... READ MORE

 

ROLLED SHEFFIELD SILVER PLATE - It was about 1743 when Thomas Boulsover discovered that an ingot of copper could be given a coating of silver by means of fusion by heat, and that the two metals united could be worked into shape as one. Copper always retained its silver covering, however thinly it was rolled. First, Boulsover used plated copper for making small wares. In the 1750s and 1760s the new process was taken up by other manufacturers and quickly became one of Sheffield... READ MORE

 

ANTIQUE RUGS or ORIENTAL CARPETS - Care and Repair tips for Collectors - One day last year the owner of a Persian rug in Washington, D.C., called the New York dealer she had bought it from and told him that the rug was falling apart. The dealer knew that a fine antique rug such as hers - it was a hundred-year-old Sultanabad - does not suddenly fall apart for no reason. As it turned out, the owner had placed a large plant on the corner of her prize rug. Two years later, when she picked up the plant... READ MORE

 

FRENCH STYLE AMERICAN SILVER  - The appreciation and therefore the collecting, of French-styled domestic (US) silver is comparatively recent. It was not until the middle of the nineteenth century that several far-sighted amateurs, realizing the beauty of old French plate and its rapidly increasing rarity, began to acquire it themselves and took steps to educate others against its destruction. Probably the domestic silver of... READ MORE

 

ENGLISH ANTIQUE ENAMELS - The art of enameling in Europe has a history going back to the Middle Ages, and many processes are known. The type of enamel produced in England in the eighteenth century has become known as painted enamel, a term not entirely appropriate since many English enamels are transfer-printed. The method consisted of first coating the base, a copper plate, on both sides with a vitreous enamel powder. An initial firing fixed the ground, and the decoration... READ MORE

 

CHINA or DINNERWARE PATTERNS: Patterns & Designs on Chinaware, Teapots, Coffee Sets, Cups & Saucers - China Patterns are designs that decorate sets of Dinnerware, Tea Sets, Chocolate Sets and other Tableware or Chinaware. Most China Patterns come in a Series and some are individual patterns that are issued by a China Manufacturer or Porcelain maker. A large number of China Patterns are issued on several occasions over time by a company, either in identical format or by varying some... READ MORE

 

CHARLEVILLE MUSKETS AND ANTIQUE AMERICAN FIREARMS - The best of smooth-bore Muskets of colonial and Revolutionary days were the Charleville muskets of France. From 1717 to 1777, they were constantly being improved. French muskets previous to the model 1763 were extensively used by French troops in this country and Canada during the early colonial wars, and demonstrated their superiority over contemporary British muskets, which remained practically the same from early colonial... READ MORE

 

AMERICAN PAINTERS IN THE 19thC  -  The best trained painters working in the United States after the War of 1812, Washington Allston, John Vanderlyn, and Samuel F. B. Morse, subscribed to a modification of neo-classical theory then not uncommon in Europe. The doctrine that, because of the superiority of Greek classic society, only the ancients had perfect bodies, had been broadened to postulate that among ordinary men only European peasants were worth painting, because... READ MORE

 

ANTIQUE TOYS, MODEL TRAINS & DOLLS  -  Toys, games and dolls are all of ancient origin. In one form or another all are shown or discussed in the earliest surviving records of all civilized societies, and evidence of their existence is not uncommon in archeologists' digs of pre-historic civilizations. In all societies and in all ages, toys have served a valuable dual function, first as a means of entertainment but more importantly (and perhaps less obviously) that of introducing the child to the... READ MORE

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY SILVER MAKERS MARKS AND HALLMARKS - Silver marks are usually shown in groups of anywhere from two to as many as six marks. The main reason for this plurality of silver marks on antiques is that silver was marked primarily for Taxation or Duty Collection reasons. Silver is a “precious metal” and as such it was heavily regulated throughout its history and until very recent times. Most countries stopped regulating silver in 2003. Silver and silver items were regarded as... READ MORE

 
HOW TO IDENTIFY ANTIQUES - Identifying Antiques & Collectibles is more than just the proverbial Art and Science. It is a business. Much of what we now call Antique or Collectible appeals primarily to the artistic side of one’s appreciation and there is also a lot of science involved in making certain Antiques. Yet, one of the main reasons Antiques Dealers or Collectors value their possessions is that they represent financial liquidity similar to that found normally in regular monetary... READ MORE
HOW TO IDENTIFY ANTIQUE CERAMICS: Porcelain & Pottery or China makers marks - Most antique ceramics bear a makers mark or backstamp. This is usually located on the underside of the piece, whether it is an antique Figurine or antique Chinaware. Porcelain makers marks usually denote the Studio or manufacturer and at times include an Artist’s initials or signature or logo. In contrast, most Pottery makers marks, such as on antique Studio Pottery Vases or Pottery Art, are frequently... READ MORE

 

THE FORGOTTEN ARTS & CRAFTS OF COLONIAL LOUISIANA: Fusion of Cultures & Art - Least remembered of all the major contributions to the United States national culture, least collected and least studied, are the products of the French and Creole artists and craftsmen of colonial Louisiana. When Louisiana was transferred to the United States, the French had occupied the Mississippi Valley for more than a century. New Orleans, the capital of the Colony, had been established in 1718 and had a... READ MORE

 

TYPES OF PORCELAIN: Hard Paste, Soft Paste, and Bone China - The broad term Ceramics usually refers to items made of fired clay. Ceramics are further divided in several categories, the primary ones being Earthenware, Stoneware and Porcelain. Their main difference in these three is the temperature at which they are fired in the Kiln and the specific composition of their component materials. Although the term Pottery is properly defined the same as the all-inclusive word Ceramics... READ MORE

 

FAIENCE POTTERY: Brief Notes on its Origins & History - Faience Pottery, also known as Fayence in France, is often used as a synonym to Majolica because of their similar appearance and use of Tin glaze. Yet, most collectors distinguish Faience pottery by their characteristic Polychrome (= multi-colored) designs and mostly white background, whereas Majolica tends to have decoration all over along with pronounced raised decorative details (relief). Although the earliest.. READ MORE

 

STERLING SILVER & SILVERPLATED ANTIQUES - In general, the term Sterling Silver is meant to distinguish items that are composed of mostly solid silver as opposed to Silver-Plated (or silverplated) that have only a thin surface layer of silver. However, there are several other distinctions, some using terms that can be confusing and often lead to a misunderstanding of an item’s composition and hence its value. One of the most important metallurgical terms that are also used in Antique and Modern Silver are the words ALLOY and PLATED... READ MORE

 

COLLECTIBLE BOOKENDS: Types & values of fine or antique bookends - A pair of shiny chrome and emerald-green Bakelite bookends flank half a dozen volumes with Art Deco bindings and such evocative titles as The Savoy Cocktail Book, The Metropolis of Tomorrow, The New York Book of Smart Interiors. What better way to show off a small collection of old books than between supports of the same period? How dull today's flat metal supports - a clear victory of function over aesthetics - seem... READ MORE

 

APPRAISALS & ANTIQUES VALUES: Part I - Some Definitions - According to Webster’s College Dictionary, an Appraisal is “(a) The act of estimating or judging the nature or value of something or someone, (b) a valuation, as for sale or taxation, (c) an estimate or considered opinion.” If you are into Antiques & Collectibles, it is easy to see why this definition is simplistic and definitely very broad. What about terms like “Fair Market Value”, “Replacement Cost”, “Insurance Value” and so on?... READ MORE

 

APPRAISALS & ANTIQUES VALUES: Part II – What is an Appraisal? - In Part I we laid out some common definitions of what most people consider the “value” of an antique or Collectible and how this depends on the intended usage of the evaluation. In this section, we will look into several practices available to Collectors and Dealers to appraise their items, starting with the formal or official Appraisal and then describing several other methods that cost very little and are usually faster... READ MORE

 

PORCELAIN MARKS FROM MEISSEN & DRESDEN - Porcelain marks are usually identified by naming the original manufacturer or maker and dating them to a certain period. In this fashion, if a pair of Urns are marked with a Sevres mark that dates ca 1800 – 1820s, we call them “A Pair of Sevres Porcelain Urns, ca 1800–1820s” and that’s it! This sounds simple enough and applies to most porcelain antiques & collectibles found in the market today. However, there is a group of porcelain marks that are identified... READ MORE

 

MISSION STYLE FURNITURE - EARLY SPANISH & MEXICAN INFLUENCES ON CALIFORNIA: A Historical Perspective - In 1521 the supremely audacious conqueror, Fernando Cortes, described by one of his contemporaries as a man "of little belly and somewhat bow-legged," occupied Mexico City and destroyed the empire of the Aztecs. Eleven years later, Fortun Jimenez, adventurer, mutineer, and cosmographer, sailed westward from the mainland and discovered a barren peninsula which rumor soon endowed with... READ MORE

 

CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN - Many moons ago, and as a novice collector of Porcelain, I thought that the phrase “Chinese Export Porcelain” meant to include all items imported from China and primarily copies or imitations of European & American Pottery. After reading several articles and books on the subject, and having visited numerous Decorative Arts Museums or Private Collections, I came to realize that this term is reserved for a much older line of Porcelain wares, made in China, that... READ MORE

 

ROYAL VIENNA AND THE BEEHIVE MARK - If you are like me and love fine porcelain, I am sure that my frustration when finding a great piece with the “beehive” mark is all too familiar. Over the years I have seen so many versions and on so many lovely pieces, it is hard to keep those creeping doubts from screaming at you: Fake!! Fake!! Especially when coupled with the words ROYAL VIENNA, with or without the beehive mark, it is enough to drive you crazy.  So… I did a lot of research and decided... READ MORE

 

BRITISH PSEUDO-MARKS & HALLMARKS ON ANTIQUE SILVER & SILVERWARE - The word “pseudomark” or “pseudo-mark” literally means “fake mark”. However, this definition is a bit too broad and simplistic when applied to silver antiques. In reality, most pseudo-marks used on antique silver were genuine and often registered makers’ marks that had a remarkable resemblance to authentic British sterling hallmarks. Their primary intention was to make items appear as genuine British sterling... READ MORE

 

QUIMPER POTTERY & FRENCH FAIENCE EARTHENWARE - Quimper Faience refers to a fine grain earthenware decorated with an opaque, tin based glaze. Each piece is completely hand painted without the use of decal or stencil by one of 48 painters (all but 4 are women). The majority of the patterns are painted on top of raw glaze, which is a formidable process. Signed by the artist and completely painted by one person from start to finish, it reflects the touches that makes Quimper is a true folk art... READ MORE

 

WEDGWOOD JASPERWARE POTTERY PORTRAITS & CAMEOS - In 1774, Wedgwood wrote the following in his catalogue: "We beg leave in this place to observe that if gentlemen or ladies choose to have models of themselves, families, or friends made in wax or engraved in stones of proper size for seals, rings, lockets, or bracelets, they may have as many endurable copies of these models as they please, either in cameo or intaglio, for any of the above purposes, at a moderate expense; and this nation is at present happy in the possession of... READ MORE

 

CARE, CLEANING and CONSERVATION METHODS for ANTIQUE METAL WARE:  Useful tips in restoring Antique Lamps, Clocks, Ormolu, Spelter, Bronze etc - Another example of an antique which does not benefit from the attempt to restore it to its original state is a piece of old Sheffield plate which shows signs of wear. The color of the metal showing through the silver - this is known technically as 'bleeding' - is to some collectors a point in its character. In any case, replating by modern electroplating will never give back the original color... READ MORE

 

ANTIQUE FRENCH FURNITURE STYLES  -  In the last quarter of the seventeenth century, as one historian writes, France dominated Europe, not only by the success of her arms but by her achievements in art and taste. Paris was the capital of fashion, dictating even to the court of Charles II across the Channel. The magnificence of the Sun King, Louis XIV, found its perfect expression in the Chateau of Versailles, where the royal residence was established in 1682. To furnish the vistaed galleries and great symmetrical salons of this palace... READ MORE

 

SILVER & SILVERPLATE DURING THE VICTORIAN ERA  -  Silver was the chief status symbol of the Victorian era. There was nothing new in this: gold and silver had long been used as the expression of power and wealth of those in high places, and from the beginning of the eighteenth century at least, they had become important to people lower down the social scale. In the earlier part of the century, members of middle-class families often had their portraits painted grouped around a table on which the family's silver tea service... READ MORE

 





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