Were these vases used for fresh flowers?

Many smaller forms, such as celery vases and trumpet vases, were designed for practical domestic use on dining tables and sideboards. They held cut flowers or celery stalks during formal meals. Larger floor vases and elaborate mantle lustres served primarily as decorative showpieces. Their intricate shapes and applied glass trails made them less practical for everyday floral arrangements.

How can I tell genuine Victorian cranberry glass?

Examine the glass closely for tiny bubbles, striations, and pontil marks on the base, which indicate traditional hand-blown manufacturing methods. The colour should be struck from within the glass itself rather than applied as a surface paint or stain. Consider the weight and proportion of the piece alongside period characteristics like crystal overlay, Mary Gregory enamel work, or Victorian brass fittings. Genuine nineteenth-century examples show appropriate age-related wear on the undersides.

What is the difference between ruby and cranberry glass?

Cranberry glass relies on gold chloride to produce a lighter, pinker, translucent red hue reminiscent of the fruit. Ruby glass often utilises different metallic oxides, such as copper or selenium, resulting in a deeper, darker, and sometimes more opaque crimson colour. In period pieces, the terms sometimes overlap in descriptions, but true cranberry possesses a characteristic warm, bright pinkish-red glow when held to the light.