Stained Glass Valuation
Vintage or antique stained glass can be appraised from $2,000 to $100,000. Many unrestored or damaged stained glass windows are impacted in terms of value.
Identifying Vintage Stained Glass
Glass Type: If it’s opalescent (where more than one color is present), then it was likely made after 1880. If it’s amber or green low-grade glass, known as “slag,” then it was probably made in the early 1900s.
Antique Glass vs Crystal
Glass makes a clunking noise, while crystal sounds like a reverberated ringing. Another way to test glassware is to lightly run a wet finger in a circular motion around the rim; crystal will produce a subtle tone.
Tiffany and Stained Glass
Vintage Tiffany Lamps: Tiffany-style lamps were popularized by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring colorful stained glass shades.
Antique Oil Lamps: Oil lamps, dating back to the 19th century, have a distinct vintage charm with ornate metal bases and glass chimneys.
Evaluating Stained Glass
Vintage or antique stained glass can be appraised from $2,000 to $100,000. For more prestigious stained glass, like Tiffany, values range from $25,000 to $150,000. Many unrestored or damaged stained glass windows are badly damaged.
Identifying Tiffany Stained Glass
To authenticate Tiffany stained glass, dab a cotton swab in nail varnish remover and gently run it over the glass. Real Tiffany lamps have embedded color pigment that won’t rub off.
Unique Glass Features
In early glass production, red was the rarest color due to the costly addition of gold. Cobalt blue glass, achieved by adding cobalt oxide, is non-magnetic.