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March 3rd, 2008 by Just Glass Oline Staff

The Victorian period ranges from 1837 until 1901.

Needless to say, because of delicacy it’s not as easy to find intact wine sets as one might think, unless granny kept them neatly tucked away in an attic.

And, in fact, this is a good place to start hunting for your treasures.

Collectors in this niche often begin with a family heirloom that sets the tone for the whole collection.

Others may find a grouping for their personal dining and get hooked. In either case, the rarity of your wine glass determines its value more so than the age.

Also, chips in glasses typically decrease their value by half, and dramatically depreciate the set.

As you’re shopping its good to know that this period’s wine glasses feature wide bases that are typically as large as and sometimes larger than the bowl. Small foots often imply an imposter, knock off or a fake.

Another reason for smaller bases might have been to fix the glass foot, so this isn’t always a “sure” warning, but its one worth heeding.

Vintage wine glasses come in a few sizes. The typical red wine goblet ranges form 6-9 ounces. Ball-shaped glasses for red wine hold 10-12 ounces. White wine glasses are usually smaller (4-6 ounces).

For those wanting a well-rounded collection, also watch for 8 ounce wine glasses that may be used for any type of wine. The glasses were designed in these sizes for very specific purposes. For example, the white wine glass helps keep the wine cold, keeping warm hands further down the stem.

The Victorian glasses offer collectors a wide variety of shapes and colors for fanciful dining. Historians believe that as many as 25 different types of stemware were considered suitable for a young, wealthy woman’s household, keeping at least 8 on hand for guests. As one might guess, collections of this nature require a large home!

Tinted wine glasses were among those enjoyed, but have gone a bit out of favor because the tinting doesn’t allow the wine’s natural colors through.

The most popular colors to watch for in this regard include cranberry, Bristol blue and green, turquoise, Uranium glass, and Sowerby blue. As for patterns, the traditional grape and vine pattern is the classic for wine!