Got Milk (glass)?

I am hesitant to say that any of our dealers at the Emporium are trendsetters. Please don't hold us responsible for the popularity or polarity of your recent purchases! However, in our business, we do occasionally catch a trend the second (or third) time around.

In recent months, I have seen a resurgence in people searching for pieces of milkglass. Sometimes they are looking for a replacement for the glass that their husband dropped. Recently, it has been a younger clientele on the hunt. (Woo Hoo) I love to see their excitement in discovering the joy of something they might otherwise consider "old fashioned". It is fairly easy to find in many thrift and antique stores (such as Monmouth Street Emporium).

Known as "milk glass," for it's milky white color, and "hobnail" for it's dotted design, it was first made in the 16th century in Venice. During the early 20th century, milk glass was synonymous with the cultural prosperity of the wealthy American culture. Milk glass was popular in the early 1900s, and made a resurgence in the 60s. It looks like hobnail is once again making another comeback. Popular milk glass items include lamps, pitchers, and vases. You'll find milk glass from popular manufacturers such as Westmoreland, Fenton and Anchor Hocking.

I'll often visit other local shops during the week to see what they have in stock or to see what they are selling. At a store this week, I saw a set of beautiful hobnail milk glass dishware. "Oh, I just brought that in today", said a gal from behind the counter. "Some girls from Monmouth came in last week and bought most of what I had left in stock over the weekend", she finished. I didn't tell her that I was a dealer in Red Bank, and that I had just recently sold the much of what I had in stock.

I'm not telling everyone to rush out and buy all the Milk Glass you can find.  It is practical and affordable. It can also be quite timeless and chic. A small investment can lead to big rewards in the decorating department. And yes, there are still pieces left to purchase!