Antique Silver Glasses
These antique silver glasses encompass scent bottles, inkwells and barware where precious metal mounts clasp blown glass.
Antique Silver Glasses
When you search for antique silver glasses, you encounter functional vessels and desk accessories created during the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco periods. These pieces combine blown or cut glass bodies with silver mounts, collars, hinges and stoppers.
The most common forms on this page include scent bottles, dressing table jars, cruet sets and decanters. Makers utilised sterling silver or silver plate to reinforce rims and provide secure closures for daily domestic utility.
Objects span from the mid-nineteenth century through the nineteen-thirties, reflecting shifts from ornate Victorian and Aesthetic Movement ornamentation to clean geometric Art Deco lines. Each piece integrates glass and metal to serve a specific household or personal requirement.
Materials and technique
Makers formed the glass components through blowing, mould-pressing, wheel-carving or deep cutting to create faceted surfaces that catch light. Silver mounts were cast, hand-fretted or hammered before being secured around necks, bases and hinged lids.
Artisans applied various finishing techniques, including silver gilding, enamel painting and coloured glass staining in shades like cranberry, green and blue. Hallmarks punched into the silver mounts record the assay office, date letter and maker's mark.
Antique Silver Glasses Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for silver glasses 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.
Distinctions in quality
The standard of a piece rests upon the weight and gauge of the silver mount and the depth of the glass cutting. Heavier silver mounts with crisp hallmarks and intricate hand-engraving or piercing indicate superior workshop execution.
Quality also depends on the integration between the glass body and its metal collar, where secure fitting without excess adhesive demonstrates precision. Intact glass free from chips, combined with well-preserved gilding or enamel work, elevates the standing of an item.
Sampson Mordan·Beare Falcke·Georg Adam Scheid·William Comyns·Harrods Ltd
The Antique Silver Glasses Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper, to add durability. This standard metal forms the mounts on higher-grade vessels.
- Silver plate
- A base metal object coated with a thin layer of silver through electroplating or old Sheffield plating techniques. It provides the visual appearance of solid silver at a different cost point.
- Double-ended scent bottle
- A personal container featuring hinged lids at both top and bottom to hold two distinct perfumes or salts. These items often incorporate coloured glass and gilt silver mounts.
- Cruet set
- A matched collection of glass bottles fitted with silver mounts, designed to hold condiments like oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. They sit within a dedicated silver plated or oak stand.
- Hallmark
- A series of stamped official marks applied to precious metal items indicating purity, the maker, the assay office and the year of production. These stamps provide verifiable provenance for dated pieces.
Antique Silver Glasses: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify the period?
Dating relies heavily on the hallmarks stamped into the silver mounts, which record specific year letters and assay office symbols. Stylistic indicators also help, such as ornate Victorian chasing versus geometric Art Deco lines.
Examining the manufacturing techniques of the glass and the overall form provides additional context for the era of production.
How were scent bottles used?
Victorian and Edwardian owners used scent bottles to carry aromatic vinegars or perfumes for personal refreshment in crowded or malodorous public spaces. Double-ended versions allowed a lady to carry two different scents simultaneously.
They were kept on dressing tables or carried inside small evening bags as fashionable personal accessories.
How should I clean silver mounts?
Silver mounts require gentle cleaning with a specialised microfibre cloth and non-abrasive polish to remove tarnish without touching the glass. Care must be taken to avoid getting polish into hinged mechanisms or onto painted enamel surfaces.
Harsh chemical dips should be avoided to protect antique gilding and original glass seals.