1920s Glass Hood Ornament
These 1920s glass hood ornaments are striking motoring accessories that bring unmistakable Art Deco sculptural form to any collection.
1920s Glass Hood Ornament
A 1920s glass hood ornament sits atop a motor car radiator cap as a sculptural car mascot. The pieces encountered here take the form of detailed animal and figure designs.
Makers produced these decorative objects in moulded and pressed glass during the Art Deco period. Many double as desk paperweights when removed from the vehicle.
How they were made
Artisans utilised moulded and pressed glass techniques to shape clear, frosted, and opalescent material into intricate animal and human forms. Certain examples incorporate metal and wood mountings to secure the mascot.
The production involved cooling and finishing the glass to achieve specific visual effects like the characteristic opalescence or topaz coloration seen in the period.
1920s Glass Hood Ornament Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for 1920s glass hood ornament among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Several of these motoring ornaments double as heavy desk paperweights, letting you bring high-speed road wildlife indoors.
What varies in quality
The presence of original mounts in metal or wood affects how successfully the mascot integrates its sculptural form with the underlying material.
Rene Lalique
The 1920s Glass Hood Ornament Glossary
- Car mascot
- A sculptural ornament mounted on a motor car radiator cap. These items served a decorative purpose during the motoring age.
- Opalescent glass
- Glass that displays a milky, iridescent quality shifting in tone depending on the light. This effect is prominent in many period pieces.
- Pressed glass
- Glass formed by pressing molten material into a metal mould using a plunger. This technique allowed for the creation of sharp decorative details.
- Art Deco
- The dominant design style of the 1920s and 1930s characterised by stylised forms and symmetry. It heavily influenced motoring accessories of the era.
1920s Glass Hood Ornament: Frequently Asked Questions
What are 1920s glass hood ornaments?
These pieces are decorative glass car mascots designed to mount on vehicle radiator caps during the Art Deco period.
They depict figures, birds, and animals moulded in clear, frosted, or opalescent glass.
How were glass mascots used?
Motorists fitted them to the front of cars as distinctive ornaments during the 1920s and 1930s.
Owners also display them independently as decorative objects or paperweights.
How do I display a car mascot?
Many collectors place them on specialised stands or wooden bases to showcase the moulded glass detail.
Placing them near natural light enhances the opalescent and frosted qualities of the material.
What materials make up these ornaments?
The primary material is moulded or pressed glass, appearing in clear, frosted, opalescent, and topaz variations.
Some examples incorporate metal and wood components in their overall construction.