http://articles.prowritemarketing.com/index.php/ Articles at ProWriteMarketing Article Directory en-us http://articles.prowritemarketing.com/index.php/antiques-and-collectibles/glass/what-determines-antique-glass.html http://articles.prowritemarketing.com/index.php/antiques-and-collectibles/glass/what-determines-antique-glass.html Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:26:24 -0600 Glass, which has been around for hundreds of years, actually did not become a staple of household use until the late 1800's. Glass jars for food storage and preservation, commonly known as canning jars, was one of the first widespread uses of glass for the homemaker. As the Glass industry matured, the homemaker was soon introduced to a variety of glassware for use in the home, and subsequently, a new field of collecting was soon born.

In the century that followed dozens of glass manufacturers sprung up, creating millions of pieces of glass in a seemingly unlimited number of colors and patterns. Hazel Atlas Glass company had produced canning jars for several years, and was one of the first glass houses to produce general utilitarian glass for the average home. These pieces made in the early 1900s has become the focus of many collectors who seek out antique glass for their collections.

Typically, a generally accepted age for antique glass is at least 75 years old. However, the age does not necessarily reflect the value of antique glass Many collectors will value glass that may be 50 years old, the experts usually refer to this glass as 'collectible' and not antique glass. Glassware does not necessarily have to be antique glass to be considered valuable; it is mainly the desire of the particular piece that determines the price or value.

On the other hand, just because a piece is considered antique glass does not mean it is valuable simply because of its age. Values are largely determined by supply and demand, the same as any commodity. To this end, it is important for a collector to know the values when buying or selling antique glassware. One of the first places many people turn to when they want to find a value for antique glass, is an antique dealer. Not all antique dealers will honestly appraise your antique glass, especially if he stands to gain from your inexperience and ignorance of antiques.

You could spend hours looking through books to determine the pattern or price of your antique glass. However, the Internet provides an easy way to find out the values of your antique glass through collectors clubs and websites. By joining a collector club or visiting their website, you may be able to quickly determine the pattern and the hard part of researching your antique glass is done. It is important to become knowledgeable on the antique glassware that you own or collect, to ensure you are getting the right price when buying or selling.

The glass houses that produced what is considered antique glass in the early to mid 1900s are a small group, therefore, it is very easy to find information on most antique glassware. These companies included Jeanette Glass, Duncan and Miller, Hazel Atlas Glass, and McKee Glass. These companies produced the majority of all glass in the 1930s and 1940s. While all of these companies produced a fair share of household glassware during this period, the Hazel Atlas Glass company led the way in producing the most patterns. In Fact, Hazel Atlas was the largest glass manufacturer in the USA. Investigating the Hazel Atlas company would be the best place to begin your research.

]]> http://articles.prowritemarketing.com/index.php/antiques-and-collectibles/glass/how-to-value-your-antique-glass.html http://articles.prowritemarketing.com/index.php/antiques-and-collectibles/glass/how-to-value-your-antique-glass.html Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:21:29 -0600 Originally invented centuries ago, glass for the home did not become a standard use until around the mid-1800s. Glass jars for food storage and preservation, commonly known as canning jars, was one of the first widespread uses of glass for the homemaker. As the Glass industry matured, the homemaker was soon introduced to a variety of glassware for use in the home, and subsequently, a new field of collecting was soon born.

In the century that followed dozens of glass manufacturers sprung up, creating millions of pieces of glass in a seemingly unlimited number of colors and patterns. One company that became the largest producer of Glass in the world was the Hazel Atlas Glass Company. Today, many people seek out and buy antique glass for many different reasons. The primary allure to antique glass is the history and beauty of such early pieces.

In most antique and collectible circles, antique glass is defined as any glassware that is more than 75 years old. This covers the era from the mid-1930s and before. While glassware made after the 1930s is often part of many collections, it is usually referred to as collectible glass and not necessarily antique glass. Glassware does not necessarily have to be antique glass to be considered valuable; it is mainly the desire of the particular piece that determines the price or value.

On the other hand, just because a piece is considered antique glass does not mean it is valuable simply because of its age. Values are largely determined by supply and demand, the same as any commodity. To this end, it is important for a collector to know the values when buying or selling antique glassware. One of the first places many people turn to when they want to find a value for antique glass, is an antique dealer. This in many cases may be a mistake, simply because an antique dealer has a lot to gain from your lack of knowledge about a particular piece of antique glass.

In today’s world, researching antique glass is so much easier with the vast resources of the Internet. It is advisable to first try and determine the value of your antique glass in the current market, before you approach an antique dealer or buyer. Once you are able to determine the pattern name, manufacturer, and approximate value of your antique glassware, you are better equipped with the knowledge necessary to sell, and ensure you get the best price.

Much of the antique glass that you will find was produced in the 1920-1940 era by only a handful of American glass manufacturers. Companies like Hazel Atlas, Jeanette, Mac-Beth Evans, and Duncan-Miller produced some of the most popular patterns. The largest producer of glassware was Hazel Atlas, and this company is a good place to begin to research your antique glass.

It is important to become knowledgeable on the antique glassware that you own or collect, to ensure you are getting the right price when buying or selling. Resources like collectors clubs, newsletters, and informational sites are the best places to find the name of your pattern, manufacturer, and current prices.

]]> http://articles.prowritemarketing.com/index.php/antiques-and-collectibles/glass/collecting-hazel-atlas-glass-for-profit.html http://articles.prowritemarketing.com/index.php/antiques-and-collectibles/glass/collecting-hazel-atlas-glass-for-profit.html Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:09:49 -0600 Glass has always been a collectible that intrigues many people, so much that it eventually turns into a lucrative business. In the mid-1900s the hot collectible of the day was pattern glass from the late 19th and early 20th century. In the 1970s and 1980s, Depression glass from the 1920s and 1930s started to catch on, eventually becoming the number one glass collectible in the late 80s and 1990s. Now entering the first decade of the millenium, Hazel Atlas Glass from the 40s and 50s is gaining popularity and showing an increase in price trends over the last several years.

Historically, a particular field of glass becomes popular around 50 years after the production. This is mainly because the previous generation recalls the glass from their childhood and desires to have it again, The increased interest, then causes an increased value which in turn excites the market as new collectors seek out the glassware.

The Hazel Atlas Glass Company produced a huge amount of different glassware for the home from the 1920s until the late 1950s. Much of the Hazel Atlas glass remained in the USA, although, a limited amount was sent to Canada and the UK during the 1950s. Recently, collectors from Japan, Germany, and the UK have found Hazel Atlas Glass to be a desirable and collectible glass. Sellers on Internet sites and auctions have reported sending Hazel Atlas Glass to all corners of the world as the trend towards this glass heightens and the price value increases.

One of the main factors in getting value for your collection is to spot the trends of items that will eventually increase in value. While many Hazel Atlas items are collectible, only select items tend to increase in value significantly. The key is to look for the Hazel Atlas glass items that consistently sell and tend to bring a little more over the course of a few weeks. You can also check with other collectors to find which items they are looking to buy. When the demand for a particular item is high, the price will tend to follow that demand.

A good example is the Hazel Atlas Pineapple Jam Jar. This piece is sought after consistently by collectors, as it is the one piece missing in several collections. When found, it easily will sell for $50 to $100, and has been reported to sell as much as $200. The Hazel Atlas Pineapple jar is so easily overlooked that many buyers would not consider it to be a valuable piece and have passed it up for a few dollars at auction and flea markets. Yet, a serious collector is willing to shell out hundreds for it.

Spotting trends and learning the desirable pieces in Hazel Atlas glass is the key to profiting in this field of collectible antiques. Most Hazel Atlas glass items are easily recognized, once you have seen a few pictures of their types of ware.

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