What is the difference between ruby and cranberry glass?

The terms are often used interchangeably by dealers to describe red nineteenth-century glassware. Cranberry glass specifically refers to pieces coloured using gold salt additives. Ruby glass can sometimes encompass hues achieved through different mineral additions. Both categories appear frequently across Victorian decorative objects and tableware.

Were these wine glasses meant for daily use?

Victorian wine glasses and stemware were produced for formal dining and entertaining. Their delicate hand-blown construction suited polite drawing rooms and dining tables rather than rough daily handling. Today, owners often display matching sets in cabinets or use them carefully for special occasions. The thin walls reflect candlelight beautifully during evening meals.

How can I tell a Victorian epergne from a modern reproduction?

Examine the base of the central bowl for a rough pontil mark where the piece was snapped off the blowpipe. Nineteenth-century examples also show minor bubbles and flow lines within the glass. Mounts and brass fittings should display the wear and patination expected from over a century of age. Modern reproductions typically lack these subtle irregularities.