A Clear Glass Monday

Even though I am semi-retired I have routines in my week. Monday’s being the most regular–to the post office to drop off weekend orders, afterwards to my neighborhood thrift store for 30 minutes then around the corner to go grocery shopping. Of course the thrift store part is the fun part even though I’m not overly optimistic these days.

Surprisingly yesterday everything I was drawn to was clear glass. That’s not something I often say! Clear glass is a category normally towards the bottom of my search list though signed clear glass and crystal stemware and barware sells for me (particularly Waterford), as do outstanding pieces of old cut crystal. I do keep an eye out for pieces that I think might be from the American Brilliant era (1876 to 1916).

Well yesterday I liked this small Italian-made glass ice bucket. Besides holding ice I thought it would look lovely spilling over with bunches of tulips in the spring or filled with pretty glass ornaments at Christmas. Alas, it doesn’t resell for much ($14 to $25) so not worth buying for my biz. But I honestly had to restrain myself from buying it for our house! (No I do not need an ice bucket…do I??)

This Orrefors Sweden small glass heart candleholder was sweet, but a singleton (and unpriced) and likely not vintage.

It sells new on Orrefors for $50, but many pre-owned versions are reselling for well under $25. I was on the fence about this one, but in the end I left it on the shelf.

But on my third pass down the clear glass aisle I spotted this goblet with a fan design and notched stem. Hmmm. There were two bigger ones and on a lower shelf a couple of smaller ones. These weren’t heavy like Waterford crystal but still rather nice.

I found an acid-etched maker’s mark, always a good sign.

Turns out these were Rogaška pieces out of Slovenia! The company has been in existence for 350 years and considered a luxury brand. These blown glass goblets are in the discontinued Richmond pattern.