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October 9th, 2007 by Just Glass Oline Staff

Milk glass got its name from, yes, you guessed it, the milky white color that it has.

It was, in the beginning supposed to be reminiscent of porcelain but be less costly to produce and therefore to purchase.

The color of the pieces are important when you are trying to determine an older piece from one which is newer and may be a reproduction.

The older milk glass can usually be picked out from the newer by looking carefully at the edges of the piece, which, if older will seem nearly transparent in nature on the edge, while the newer pieces are very white and may not even permit light flow through them.

Some of the more aged pieces of milk glass can be traced so far back as the 1500’s however what is usually found and collected today begins in about 1700 and upward to present day.

Milk glass contrary to popular belief is not alway white, but may be any color, while still keeping the milky appearance that gives it its name.

One of the more popular colors in milkglass is the blue coloration, however you may also find green, pink and several other colors. Some will have painting on them, which was common among the earlier items. Never attempt to remove this paint as it will hold the key in most cases to the age of the piece.

If you are interested in collecting milk glass, you will find some interesting tips and ideas online at the National Milk Glass Collectors Society.