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One of the better ways to determine current prices of cut glass is the various auction houses. The prices paid by buyers at auction will provide an idea of what one might expect to receive for a particular item.Dealers also attend auctions and they mark up prices in their shops or at shows in order to make a profit.E-BAY may or may not be a good source to determine prices. Prices on e-bay are often inflated as the buyer has no good method for determining condition, etc. before purchasing an item.Shows and antique shops often have a wide range of prices for the same pieces. In the end, one must educate oneself by attending various shops, shows, and auctions in order to build up a knowledge of the various prices as they relate to such things as manufacturer, chips, cracks. repairs, etc.
In general, the older the piece, the more expensive. This is assuming that the older the piece the more scarce it is. This may or may not be true for a particular item. One should not expect to pay a largely inflated price for age alone.Nicks, cracks, and chips tend to lower the price. Something that is mor than 100 years of age should show some age and perhaps one or two tiny nicks. Missing teeth at the edge will greatly affect the price.A crack will lower the price greatly as that type of damage may result in the loss of a piece. A liberty bell was made for the Wold's Fair in Saint Louis. It is one of a kind, but has a substantial crack, so much so that moving it was considered risky. It was bought for about $5000.00 because of its rarity.A piece having a stopper should be examined carefully. Be sure the stopper fits the character of the piece. If it is cut, the pattern should be the same as that of the main item. A stopper should fit snugly, that is it should not wobble. It should not sit too high or too low. Many pieces have replacement stoppers. If it is a two part piece, the patterns of the two pieces should match. Underplates and lamp shades are often without a match. These are commonly referred to as "marriages". Not only should the patterns match, but the size and weight of the objects should also match. Sometimes a small plate may be matched with a small bowl, in which event the glass plate may be decidely thicker than the bowl.Some patterns are more desirable to a large number of collectors than are others. Consequently, these patterns tend to bring a better price. Generally, American made pieces are deemed to be more desirable than European pieces, although this is not true of all items. A great many stems available are from Europe, particularly Germany and Belgium. These bring prices near those of American glass.American, to most, is meant to be from the United States. Several Canadian companies also cut glass and blanks were often made and cut on opposite sides of the border. However, Canadian pieces generally sell for slightly less than those from the United States.Signatures indicate the manufacturer and are more collectible and therefore often higher in price. One must also be wary of counterfeit signatures which will lower the price.Handles on items may have a crack at the point at which the handle is attached. As handles are attached after the piece is made, the glass may not attach well if a difference in temperature exists. These cracks are often referred to as "stress cracks" or "heat check",The best advice is to examine a piece carefully, and if you have any questions, don't purchase it. Auctions are a good way in which to establish market conditions, Press the gold star below to access information regarding the value of auctions.
