What Is Milk Glass and Who Made It? A Simple Gui

What Is Milk Glass and Who Made It? A Simple Guide: Milk glass, an opaque white glass collectible, is pressed into decorative items like plates, pitchers, and bowls. It was popular in the late 1800s and again in the mid-1900s, mainly made by glass companies in Northeastern U.S

Exploring the history and production of milk glass reveals insights into the value and distinctive qualities of these pieces. Continue reading to delve deeper into this glassware category and its manufacturing process.

What Is Milk Glass

Milk glass, also called opal glass or opaque glass, stands out due to its unique appearance. By adding an opacifier like tin dioxide to the glass mix, it achieves a solid color, commonly a nearly iridescent white. Initially known as opal glass, it later earned the milky descriptor.

Diverse additives and their quantities affect milk glass opacity and coloration. Holding a piece to light may reveal slight transparency. Such items are termed alabaster or clambroth-colored. While less frequent, milk glass can appear in hues like blue, green, and pink. Coloring intensity varies from subtle to vibrant.

Milk glass is primarily pressed to create elaborate edges and patterns, with decorative plates being the most common. These plates often feature open lattice or lace designs. While milk glass serves decorative functions, full dining sets are rare. Common items include pitchers, serving bowls, vases, and trays. (Source)

Read: Our Full Article on how milk glass is made

Purpose of Production Milk Glass

During the Gilded Age, the middle class expanded rapidly, filling the gap between upper and lower income brackets. Milk glass emerged as a cheaper alternative to porcelain, providing similar-looking decorative pieces through cost-effective manufacturing.

Glass manufacturers emulated popular porcelain styles from brands like Wedgwood and Spode. They capitalized on trends and targeted the growing middle class, achieving success. (Source)

Milk glass is currently less popular and manufactured in limited amounts. Its value diminishes over time, with newer pieces being less valuable. Nonetheless, it remains appealing to collectors due to its widespread availability and affordability, making it a desirable item for collectors.

Milk Glass Popularity Through History

Opaque glass production dates back to the 1500s in Italy, while in the U.S., it was being produced by at least 1850. However, when people mention milk glass, they usually refer to the more mass-produced pieces from later periods, not the early versions.

The initial rise in popularity occurred in the late 1880s and extended into the early 1900s, coinciding with the economic boom of the Gilded Age in the United States, particularly in the North. However, an economic downturn around the turn of the century made luxuries like decorative glassware unaffordable for many families, leading to a decline in the production of decorative milk glass for a period.

In the early 19th century, glass milk production was more focused on practical uses. After all, it’s still a very cheap and relatively durable material to produce. Milk glasses have been used as bottles of packaging for everything, from food to cosmetics. (Source)

The mid-19th century saw a rise in the popularity of milk glasses. The end of World War II helped create a typical American family image of the suburbs and households. Glass manufacturers monopolize the new American desire for a perfect family and home and market these luxurious decorative pieces to these middle-class women. Finally, the milk glass looks out of style, as every trend does.

Modern milk glasses are still in production, but they are not very popular or stylish. A vintage cup of milk is what people want today. It’s usually a fairly affordable collection item, unless it’s really an old part. The variety of styles and mass productions that have taken place throughout history make these pieces readily available to collectors with all kinds of style preferences.

Manufacturing Of Milk Glass

Information about manufacturers of opaque glass in its earliest stages is limited, but tracking production becomes easier during periods of popularity surges. One of the early manufacturers of opaque glass in the United States was the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, based in Massachusetts. By 1850, this company was actively producing opaque glass.

Most of the glass manufacturers in the United States in the late 1800s were in Pennsylvania or West Virginia. The northern countries are hotbeds for production, which is convenient since most customers also live in the area. Popular companies in Pennsylvania include McKee & Bros, Pittsburgh and Jeannette, Dithridge & Company, and Gillinder & Sons. Some West Virginia companies during the 1800s were the Eagle Glass & Manufacturing Company and the Central Glass Company of Wheeling. These were some of the most popular milk glass producers in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but most glass companies today would produce at least a number of glasses.

The Fenton Art Glass Company and the Westmoreland Glass Company were big names in the mid-19th century for their contributions to this industry. Fenton introduced the hobnail, a point-lift model that is still popular in glass today. Westmoreland makes a popular panel wine model that is now found all over milk glasses.

Contemporary producers of milk glass encompass Anchor Hocking, Fenton, Westmoreland, and Imperial. While these companies extend their production beyond milk glass due to its diminished popularity, they continue to offer a wide range of glassware products. (Source)