Learn about antiques and collectibles with Dr. Georgia Caraway

of glassware, was invented and introduced in America in the 1820s Over 2500 patterns and variants have been listed for the 19th century

Pattern glass is a term used to describe glassware usually produced in sets The terms Pattern and Pressed are used to describe similar wares

Cut Glass: removal of sections of glass from a preformed blank in order to produce a design The blank was made of flint or lead crystal which was easier to cut and added brilliance to the facets First developed by Romans and “rediscovered” by the Germans in the 17th century Brought to America in the late 18th century and reached its zenith in 1875/761915 which is known as the brilliant period

Glass collecting is a complicated field in that there are so many types of glass with so many complex processes for their creation This column will give a simplified recap of dates and definitions of a few types of glass In future columns we will discuss art glass, carnival glass and depression glass

Some important dates for glassware:

• Handblown, BC- 1830

• Pressed, 1825-current (reached its zenith at TOC)

• Cut glass,

Early 1770-183

Middle 1830-1880

Brilliant 1875/761915

• Art Glass, 1880-1920

• Carnival, 1900-1920

• Depression, 1930s

Definitions:

Blown Glass: glass whose shape and sometimes decoration are produced by pressure from the lungs of the glassblower Glass produced in this manner was either free-blown, in which case the final shape was produced by hand, or blown-in-mold, where final shape was dictated by blowing the glass into a pre-formed mold These molds were usually made of hinged steel, cast iron, or wood

Pressed Glass: glass whose shape and decoration are formed by being mechanically pressed in a mold This process, for the manufacture