Art Glass Table Bowl
An art glass table bowl brings colour and light to a room, offering a decorative vessel shaped to hold flowers, fruit or dressing table items.
Art Glass Table Bowl
When you search for an art glass table bowl, you are looking at decorative vessels created across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in various styles. The selections on this page range from Victorian and Edwardian pieces to Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Scandinavian Modern designs.
You are most likely to meet centrepieces, dressing table accessories, powder boxes and small decorative bowls. These objects often combine coloured or frosted glass with mounts of silver plate, sterling silver or gilt bronze.
The origins span British, French, Belgian and Scandinavian workshops. Makers such as Lalique, WMF, Val St Lambert and Monart are represented alongside unmarked pieces from the period.
How they were made
The manufacture of these pieces relies on glassblowing, moulding and crystal cutting techniques. Artisans worked with clear, coloured, vaseline, opalescent and frosted glass, occasionally layering contrasting colours over crystal.
Metal mounts and frames in silver plate, sterling silver, gilt bronze and tortoiseshell were frequently added to house or support the glass bowls. Enamel decoration, painted motifs and gold enamel flowers were also applied to the glass surfaces.
Art Glass Table Bowl Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for art glass table bowl 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.
Listings include items spanning the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Scandinavian Modern periods.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the weight and clarity of the glass, the crispness of moulded relief work and the finish of any metal mounts. Pieces designed by named makers or produced by established glassworks show greater refinement in their proportions and decorative detail.
The integration between the glass bowl and its metal frame or lid indicates the standard of manufacture. Finer examples display precise fits, substantial silver or bronze mounts and well-executed enamelling.
Whitefriars·Rene Lalique·Val St Lambert·St Louis glassworks·Monart Glass
The Art Glass Table Bowl Glossary
- Vaseline glass
- Glass containing uranium dioxide which produces a distinct yellow-green shade. It often glows under ultraviolet light.
- Opalescent glass
- Glass that diffuses light and displays a milky, translucent appearance with changing blue and amber tones.
- Centrepiece
- A large decorative bowl or dish placed in the middle of a table for display or floral arrangements.
- Epergne
- An ornamental centrepiece featuring multiple branching dishes or holders for fruit, flowers or sweets.
- Powder box
- A small lidded vessel used on a dressing table to hold cosmetic powder.
Art Glass Table Bowl: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean an antique glass bowl?
Wash the glass gently in lukewarm water using mild soap and a soft cloth. Avoid harsh scrubbing or abrasive cleaners that might damage enamel work or metal mounts.
Dry the piece immediately with a lint-free cloth. If the bowl has silver or gilt metal parts, keep moisture away from those areas during cleaning.
How can I tell Art Nouveau from Art Deco?
Art Nouveau pieces, produced around the turn of the twentieth century, feature flowing organic lines, floral motifs and sinuous plant forms. You will often see asymmetrical designs inspired by nature.
Art Deco pieces from the 1920s and 1930s favour geometric shapes, symmetry, clean lines and stylised patterns. The forms become more structured and architectural.
Are these bowls suitable for everyday use?
Most of these bowls serve well for display or gentle domestic use such as holding potpourri, fruit or dressing table items. Pieces with delicate enamel, thin moulding or metal mounts require careful handling.
Avoid exposing antique glass to sudden temperature changes or heavy daily wear to preserve the material and any original mounts.
What is vaseline glass?
Vaseline glass is a type of transparent or translucent glass made with uranium oxide as a colouring agent. It typically displays a characteristic yellow or yellowish-green tint.
In natural light, the glass has a warm, oily appearance that resembles petroleum jelly, which gave the material its common collector name.