Glassware can be both beautiful and practical. Collecting glassware can bring joy to its owners and to those who see it. Collecting glassware can be a richly rewarding past-time plus you can often use items from your collection in your everyday life, therefore gaining even more pleasure from your glassware collection.

The condition of the glass you collect is of paramount importance. Always try to purchase perfect specimens unless the item is a one-off or extremely rare piece in which case you might have to accept something less than perfect.

Beginners who start collecting glassware often go for quantity rather then quality. If you are just starting out collecting glassware don't stress too much about it ... as your collection grows your taste will evolve and you may find you want to specialize in a particular period or style of glassware. Different enthusiasts collect different items and there are collections ranging from shot glasses to cookie jars, stemware to tiny glass flowers, Venetian glass to Depression glass.

And always remember if your glassware collection grows too large with unwanted items you can always sell those items so that you can buy more of the type of glassware that you prefer. The internet is an excellent place to sell your unwanted glassware.

We cannot say with certainty when and where glass was invented, but history supports man's fascination with it through the ages.

Bowls with gold and enamel decoration dating to the 2nd Century AD have been unearthed in the Roman Catacombs.

As much as we like to think we've "invented the wheel," today's glass collectors are just following that trend. Yet somehow, the glass blower imposes his structure on this molten rock to create a new substance that captures movement and color and light; that is fragile yet permanent at the same time.

Sure, some people collect with an eye toward investment value only. But more glass collectors buy items because they admire beautiful things; and perhaps the largest group collects because of the memories awakened by a single piece.

In many ways, then, today's glass collectors are preserving a part of history. Ultimately, the reason we collect is our love of glass, and our desire to surround ourselves with things we know to be useful, and think to be beautiful.

There are as many different ways to collect glass, as there are glass collectors.
Some folks have very refined collections that only include a specific article --like covered candy jars or shot glasses - and lots of people collect single cup & saucer sets.

Following, is a list and brief description of some of the more common categories of glass to help you on your collecting journey. It is by no means complete - we're only whetting your appetite - but is meant to highlight some of the more popular types of glass and styles of glass collecting.

Styles For Collecting Glassware

Art Glass

Art Glass is hand made glass that was produced from the late 1800's through the 1950's. This type of glass was hand worked, so no two pieces will be exactly the same.
Tiffany, Steuben, Loetz, D'Argental, and Durand are just a few of the companies who produced art glass.

Contemporary Glass

Contemporary Glass from 1970's to present is a modern day continuation of the art glass category.

Carnival Glass

Carnival Glass is pressed glass that has been treated with metallic salts and then re-fired to give the glass an iridescent finish.

Vintage carnival glass

Vintage carnival glass was produced from 1905 to 1920 and was sometimes called 'poor man's Tiffany' as it had beautiful iridescence reminiscent of Tiffany art glass but was affordable to everyone. Contemporary carnival is also collectible today.

Depression Glass

Depression Glass is machine produced glass made in America from the mid 1920's through the 1930's. Collectible 40's 50's 60's Glass - is a continuation of Depression glass.

Elegant Glass

Elegant Glass is the name for better quality hand made glassware that was produced during the depression years and through the 1950's. Unlike regular Depression glass, which was completely machine produced, Elegant glass was machine molded then finished by hand -- etched, polished, reshaped and ground.

FireKing

FireKing was made by the Anchor Hocking Company beginning about 1940 and through 1976. FireKing was glassware that was advertised as going from freezer to oven to table to refrigerator without breaking.

Pyrex Glass, (whose name is Latin for Fire King) is also a line of glass kitchenware.

Crystal

Crystal refers to better quality stemware and decorative items made by companies like Lenox, Baccarat, and Gorham during the 20th century.

Cut Glass/EAPG

Cut Glass/EAPG is glass produced from the early 1800's through 1915.

Glass by Color

Glass by Color. One of the easiest collecting formulas in the glass world is to collect by color. You don't need to know lots about glass, just look for the right hue.

Glass by Country

Glass by Country. Another popular trend in collecting glassware is to focus on the glass from a specific country or geographic region.