Is my milk glass worth anything?

Milk glass is opaque white glass that has been made for well over a century, and much of the milk glass found today, such as hobnail vases, footed compotes and candy dishes from the mid-twentieth century, was made in very large numbers. These common pieces usually sell for modest amounts, often bought for weddings and decorating.

Older and more unusual milk glass can be different. Nineteenth-century pieces, early figural covered dishes such as hens, animals and boats on nests, lacy patterns, hand-painted decoration and colors like blue milk glass draw more collector interest. Makers such as Fenton, Westmoreland, Imperial and Anchor Hocking all made milk glass, and marks or original labels can help with identification. Chips, cracks and wear lower value.

Hold your piece up to a light. Some older milk glass shows a fiery, opalescent glow around the edges, which collectors sometimes use as one sign of age, though it is not proof. Look for marks on the base and compare the pattern with a reference guide. Then check sold results, not asking prices. For a large group of common pieces, selling as one lot usually makes the most sense.