American collectibles made of glass abound. There are plates and cups in various colors and patterns. Formed in molds, they are usually impressed with geometric patterns of facets to give the plates and other pieces a more impressive appearance. Cups and mugs are also formed using molds, as are vases plain and fancy, and in massive numbers, bottles and jars. These are all American collectibles.

Bottles come in many colors.

Industrial items made of glass and collectible are: telephone insulators, laboratory glass, glass bricks for architectural use, glass door knobs, furniture casters, and glass eyes for taxidermists.

Glass insulators are available from past installations. They come in many colors and variations.

In a more artistic vein, there are beautiful glass paperweights, marbles, beads and buttons made by hand by artists that explore this versatile material. Often these are one-of-a-kind collectibles made purely for their aesthetic value.

Glass paperweights may have paper, plant or glass components inside to form the decoration.

Glass animals come in common species like cats, dogs, birds, and most come in several colors. These are manufactured using molds. The iconic hen on a nest is a common motif created by glass companies in America. Sometimes the hen is replaced by a turkey, duck, cat, dog or even swan. Made in a myriad of colors, they are frequently also in blended colors of glass called “end of day.” This term comes from a time when the last glass of a batch was used by the glass makers for their own projects at the end of the working day. Sometimes there was not enough of one color, so glass from two of more batches would be used together. These became so popular that blended colored glass is used for regular production runs.

Simple forms with few details make glass animals elegant.

There are land and sea animals made by hand lampworkers who use a torch and glass rods. These lampworkers also make other items, like crosses, books, hearts, glass carriages, motorcycles and other emblematic forms. Sometimes working in view of the public, these artists frequently set up shop in tourist areas.

Lampwork elephants.

Art glass, glass items made by glass artists in their own studios, comes in small and large sizes, and may be formed into platters, bowls, glasses, vases, hanging ornaments, paperweights, pumpkins, marbles and hearts. Sometimes sold in museum gift shops, they are beautiful and highly collectible.

Sponge forms made of glass by an artist.

Glass can be formed to make any kind of container. Bottles, jars, vases and boxes have been mentioned so far. Many forms of glass container have a utilitarian purpose: baking dishes, measuring cups, jelly molds, canisters, napkin holders, left-over boxes and refrigerator bottles included.

Canisters for use in the kitchen.

The variety of items and the many variations for each provide a world of collecting in glass. The collector has only to decide on color, process, maker or form to begin an exploration of this amazing material.

Grapes made of glass.

There is far more glass available than I can cover in a single post. For more ideas about glass collectibles, I have another web site at The Glass Collectibles Guide.

* * * For something completely different, read about sleigh beds. * * *

The images on this post are from Stock Xchnge.

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