Glassware From the Fabulous Fifties

Its hard to think of an era that produced more interesting, quirky things than the fifties and that includes the glassware, the dinnerware and the furniture..

In the fifties you could find every possible height and shape of glass imaginable and entertaining by means of a cocktail party was the newest rage, so everyone, who was anyone, had some of that quirky new glassware at their house.

The absolute ultimate goal of the fifties was having the best of the best when it came to entertaining your neighbors, and the array of glasses, bar stock, serving trays and cheese platterse simply can’t be believed.

Most of it in stunning colors, unimaginable shapes and amazing prints that make it some of the most collectible parts of the fifties.

At this point, it also happens to be among the most easily afforded collectible of the fifties. I personally snap up the odd shaped and wildly colored ashtrays wherever I can find them, and they do seem to be available in a vast number at the moment, so now’s the time to get into this kind of collecting.. Eventually, if they haven’t already, more people are going to begin collecting these glass mementos of the fifties, making the price go up and the availability go down.

If you’re looking for a retro decoration to complement your retro decor, what could you possibly find that would suit it better than dishes from the same era.

Not just cocktail glasses were popular and brightly hued in the fifties howerver, but also paperweights, ashtrays and multiple other things that scream out the era in which they were made by the design and colors.

E-bay surfing or a garage or rummage sale quite often turns up a real treasure trove of dishes or meat or serving trays that make wonderful wall hangings and some will even be signed by the designer, such as those made by the very prolific designer Georges Briard. Murano glassware was also quite popular and equally as colorful during the fifties as were most other companies glasswares during this time span.

If you don’t have a signature, chances are you’re going to know the glass ware of the fifties and sixties quite easily, by the bright colors, the geometric and circular patterns involved and the amazing hues of orange, red, brown and blue, all co mingled on the same glass.

You can identify glassware from the 50’s by their bright colors of gold, turquoise, orange, yellow, silver, and browns all painted in classic patterns of geometric shapes. Some of the most original glassware may even be signed by the designer such as those designed by the prolific Georges Briard.

Other companies that produced glassware from the fifties are such well known companies as Pyrex, Corning and Anchor Hocking, most of which are still producing today.Remember those amazing huge mixing bowls in the astonishing shades of avocado green and burnt orange?

You can still find them and amazingly enough, most of them are in quite good shape. Let’s face it. If it lasted forty five odd years, chances are its a much better quality of glassware than that which you’re going to find today, even if you special order retro designs to fit into your kitchen.

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