AMERICAN BRILLIANT CUT GLASS AT GLANCE: AFFORDABLE TREASURES ABOUND

Glass making in America reached one of its peaks during a period called the American Brilliant Period, often abbreviated as ABP. This era, which is considered to have lasted from 1876 to 1916, was epitomized by high quality lead crystal with intricate cut designs which were all done by hand. The quality eclipsed even the cut glass made in Europe at the time, with some of the best known makers being Hawkes and Libbey. Because the glass needed to be hardened to withstand the cutting wheels, the lead content on fine ABP glass was often in the 25% to 35% range. This high lead content gives the glass its clarity and brilliance, but also does make it more susceptible to chips and fleabites. Collectors understand this, however, and chips that would typically harm the value of, say, an art glass piece are considered acceptable in most cases with ABP glass.

As with most areas of the world of antiques, the prices and collecting interest in ABP glass has dropped significantly in recent decades. There is still a market for it, however, and the good news is that fine ABP glass can often be found in thrift and resale stores. Often times it is mixed in with newer and lesser-quality cut crystal so it helps to know what to look for.

The first clue will be the sharpness of the sawteeth on the rims and the cuttings on the sides. True ABP will have extremely sharp edges, which you can quickly detect simply by running your hand over it. Another clue is the glass quality. True ABP glass will have a nice ring to it when tapped with a fingernail, lesser quality glass typically will not. Also, the glass will be noticeably heavier than similar non-ABP pieces. Both the "ring" and the weight are due to to the high lead content. 

Bottom wear is another important clue, especially on pieces such as vases and tumblers. Bottoms on true ABP vases and glasses will be flat and polished and usually show a faint haze from being moved over table surfaces for a hundred years. 

Lastly, look for maker's marks. These typically will be a small acid stamp on the inside middle of a bowl, etc. and can be very hard to see unless you tilt the piece at exactly the right angle. It's worth doing, however, since having a piece by a prominent maker can often double the value. In our area, the pricers at the resale store seem to be getting better at spotting the good ABP glass but still continue to frequently miss the maker's signatures. Which, as Martha Stewart would say, is a "good thing" if you looking to make a nice find. Happy hunting!