Milk Glass is a term used by glass-makers for opaque white glass. The German term is milch-glass, the Italian term is lattimo (from latte, milk)
and the French term is blanc-de-lait (milk white) or verre-de-lait.
Milk glass looks like white porcelain. It was first made in Venice in the 14th or 15th
century, and later in just about every country that made glass.
The opaque white colour is usually made with tin oxide. During the 17th and 18th centuries it was very
popular, and during that period it was often decorated with enamel painting.
Semi-opaque white glass was also made using ashes of calcined bones, and this kind of glass is called by names such as opal, opaline, or milk-and-water glass.
During the 19th and 20th centuries a great deal of pressed, opaque, white glass was made, and this was often given names like vitro-porcelain
(in England) or porcellein-glass (in Germany). This is the kind of white glass that is usually collected by milk glass collectors.
The same manufacturers often made other colors in the same patterns, especially blue, and this has given rise to some glass experts applying
the term "milk glass" to other colours in opaque glass.
There are some good books specialising in milk glass, and the collector can find more useful information in books
about the companies that made milk glass. Look in any book on Fenton glass, Kemple glass, or Westmoreland glass and you will find sections on milk glass.
If you are looking for milk glass you can often find items on offer on ebay
- click here to see the milk glass listings currently offered on ebay.
The items below are for sale right now on eBay - we thought you would like to see these examples.
Here are some books on Milk glass that you may find helpful. Click on any book cover to read more about that book, including price and any available discounts for buying on-line.
Looking for a book? You can search the whole amazon.com site from here:
If you have never tried an on-line auction,
explore ebay, - still the best!
Type what you are searching for in this box:
OR
FIND GLASS on ebay! Take a quick look at your kind of glass in Angela's Designer Searches - save time and don't miss an opportunity even when you are busy! - CLICK HERE
INFORMATION about Bagley Glass!
At last a book on Bagley Glass. The first edition of this book sold out very quickly.
The 2nd Edition is now available and has received a rave response - more information, more and better pictures, new items identified as Bagley for the first time, a helpful index, and more compehensive coverage; - so much so that there is no need for a supporting CD, which brings the price lower!
A truly comprehensive guide to help you identify Bagley Glass.
Click on picture for more details.
2nd Edition US$33.90 plus pp.
INFORMATION about New Zealand Glass !
Including many original catalog pictures and dozens of photographs.
NOW available - this is the first paperback edition of the book
and it covers many contemporary New Zealand glass artists as well as
the history of glass in New Zealand, Crown Crystal Glass and New Zealand bottles.
Price US$29.90 plus pp.
Tiara Glass Collectors' INFORMATION
Click on the picture for more details.
This CD includes original catalogs and advertising leaflets.
There are now at least seven full catalogs, five leaflets, and the 1995 Tiara Product Information Manual.
You may often find a bargain on half.com.
Click on this logo to try.
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