How to Identify Antique Colored Glass Cut to Clear
- 1). Study a good illustrated guide to collecting glass, such as "Glass Collector Weekly." You need to become familiar with the different makers, patterns and characteristics of the glass.
- 2). Take a trip to local flea markets and antique shops. Carefully inspect the pieces of cut to clear glass that you come across and see if you can identify the maker or the pattern.
- 3). Pick up some of the pieces and feel the weight. Cut to clear glass produced during the Brilliant Period was made with lead. Newer glass does not use lead and isn't as heavy.
- 4). Examine patterns. They were usually cut to show off the color of the glass. The Russian pattern, though, was an exception. A variety of colors were used as the overlay on cut to clear glass pieces. Colors such as green, blue, purple amethyst, ruby, amber and rainbow colors were commonly used.
- 5). Inspect the bottom of the pieces. Most cut to clear glass was not signed by the maker. Brilliant cut to clear glass is usually identified by the pattern.
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