Collecting China Crystal Decoration Glassware
In the world of collectibles, china crystal decoration glassware makes an interesting pursuit. The glassware is available in a variety of patterns and styles of decoration and reflects the history of manufacturing techniques. Collectible china crystal decoration glassware can be hand blown and crafted using techniques that are centuries old or it can be partly mass-manufactured or decorated. The styles also tell the story of taste and fashion through the ages from the fine elegance of the past to the practicality and casual lifestyles of the present.
Crystal Ware
The difference between glassware and crystal is the lead content. Glass is made of sodium and potassium while crystal is composed of sodium, silicone and lead. The lead content makes the crystal soft enough to cut and etch, changes the light diffraction and makes the crystal heavier. Whether referring to beverage serving pieces, decorative pieces such as vases, or figures, a piece is described as “full lead crystal” if it contains at least 30% lead. If it contains 24% to 29% lead, it can be called “lead crystal.” Crystal glass or crystalline contains less than 24% lead.
One type of collectible china crystal decoration glassware is the elegant American glassware. This somewhat inaccurate name is given to handmade crystal glasses made by several American companies from the 1920’s to the 1980’s. Although easy to find during its height of popularity, this type of china crystal decoration glassware is not the common glassware also available during those years. Elegant glassware includes plain patterns, etched or cut patterns. Although colored patterns are rarer, the colors used range from cobalt and ruby to pale yellow and fuchsia.
They can also be trimmed with gold or platinum. The patterns of elegant glassware reflect the tastes of the decades in which they were popular. In the 1920’s and 1930’s, brides would choose a crystal pattern along with their patterns for china and silver. Manufacturers of elegant glassware began to give romantic names to their crystal patterns during this time. This type of china crystal decoration glassware reflects the trend toward elegant dining of the times.
It was not unusual for a household to have kitchen servants which made several courses the norm – each course having its own china, silver and crystal style. The trend toward more casual dining along with the inexpensive crystal that flooded the market following World War II drove most of the elegant glassware manufacturers out of business. The beauty, variety and the care taken in keeping this type of china crystal decoration glassware make elegant glassware very collectible.
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3D Laser Etched Crystal Portrait
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Pair of Cut & Etched glass lead crystal tall cylindrical VASES v fine detail vgc £24.99 |
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ROYAL BRIERLEY QUEEN ELIZABETH SILVER JUBILEE CUT & ETCHED CRYSTAL CELERY VASE £38.00 |
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Prince Charles & Lady Diana Marriage Crystal Etched Glass Goblet Webb Corbett £15.00 |
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laser 3D crystal glass golf golfer gift etched prism optical art club game £5.99 |
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Large European Cut Crystal Casket – Etched Ship Scene £449.00 |
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WEBB CORBETT ENGLAND ART CRYSTAL CUT LEAD GLASS 2 POSY VASES ETCHED MARK VINTAG £5.99 |
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RARE set of 7 Victorian ETCHED Crystal CHAMPAGNE SAUCERS Glasses Coupes SUPERB!! £140.00 |
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3D LASER ART ETCHED CRYSTAL LARGE PAPER WEIGHT LABRADORS MOON TREES STARS BOXED £9.00 |
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3D LASER ART ETCHED CRYSTAL MEDIUM SIZE CHAMPANGE BOTTLE AND BUCKET £8.00 |
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6-VINTAGE ETCHED GOBLETS/LARGE WINE LEAD CUT CRYSTAL GLASSES £35.00 |
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FLOWER FAIRY ETCHED GLASS CRYSTAL ORNAMENT WITH BOX £3.00 |
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Shabby Vintage Chic Etched Glass Lantern Tea Light Holder Grey Distressed Heart £3.70 |
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3D Laser Etched Crystal Glass Ornament Ireland Harp Size: 6cm x 4cm Home Gift ♥ £0.99 |
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3D Laser Etched Crystal Glass Ornament Mallorca Spain Windmill Size 7.5cm x 5cm £0.99 |
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ATTRACTIVE ART DECO ETCHED STUART CRYSTAL DECANTER – 9 INCHES TALL £14.99 |
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4 x collectors lead crystal bells ZWIESEL ETCHED FLORAL 24% FLORAL & RUBY ANNIVE £4.00 |
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Andromeda Spiral Galaxy 3-D laser-etched cut-glass crystal Cube – TAKARA KAIYODO £4.99 |
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FAB HEAVY CRYSTAL/GLASS ETCHED HONEY POT/JAR SILVER PLATED LID £1.84 |
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TALL CRYSTAL ORNAMENT OF GUARDIAN ANGEL LASER ETCHED 3D ANGEL SPREAD WINGS £6.00 |
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English Crystal ~ Sherry / Port ~ Etched Leaf Design £6.99 |
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Antique Vintage Facet Stem Hand Etched Crystal Champagne glasses coupe saucers £14.99 |
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BNIB TALL CRYSTAL ORNAMENT OF GUARDIAN ANGEL LASER ETCHED 3D NATURE STARS KIDS £8.75 |
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Antique Vintage Facet Stem Hand Etched Crystal Champagne cocktail glasses £14.99 |
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Antique Vintage Facet Stem Hand Etched Crystal Wine Water glasses £14.99 |
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TALL CRYSTAL ORNAMENT OF GUARDIAN ANGEL LASER ETCHED 3D ANGEL SPREAD WINGS £8.95 |
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Five Lead Crystal Cut Glass Sherry Glasses ~ Etched Makers Marks £5.00 |
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Burns Crystal Whisky Dram Shot Square Glass Etched Perfect Condition £1.99 |
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6 CRYSTAL small WINE PORT glasses ETCHED with STARS – 4 3/4″ tall – SUPERB £12.99 |
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Edinburgh cut glass crystal etched golfers brandy glasses set of 2 £21.00 |
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3 Crystal Old Fashion Glasses – Etched Mark Lion wearing a Crown 4″ high £6.32 |
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*ROYAL DOULTON VASE* “FUSHIA” *WHEEL ETCHED* CRYSTAL CUT GLASS £4.99 |
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ELEGANT SHABBY VINTAGE ANTIQUE SILVER ETCHED GLASS TEALIGHT HOLDER WEDDING TABLE £9.95 |
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LEAD CRYSTAL PAPERWEIGHT WITH SQUIRREL ETCHED IN.LIMITED EDITION SIGNED M DUNN? £7.99 |
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GLENEAGLES CRYSTAL SCOTTISH THISTLE ETCHED PAPERWEIGHT £1.99 |
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Villeroy & and Boch LA DIVINA crystal champagne glass flute NEW ETCHED £17.49 |
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FIVE CUT CRYSTAL SHERRY GLASSES ETCHED CRISS CROSS DESIGN £5.99 |
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Crystal Glass Laser Etched Running Horse Ornament BNIB (sb30) £5.99 |
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OUTSTANDING EDWARDIAN ETCHED CRYSTAL GLASS EPERGNE / TABLE CANTREPIECE £26.00 |
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VTG LARGE CRYSTAL CUT GLASS PEDESTAL COMPOTE BOWL CENTERPIECE ETCHED & SCALLOPED £34.80 |
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Votive Tealight Holders – Etched Glass £0.99 |
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Votive Tealight Holders – Etched Glass £0.99 |
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Votive Tealight Holders – Etched Glass £0.99 |
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Very Elegant Etched Crystal Vase by Lenox £2.52 |
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ELVIS PRESLEY THE KING 3D LASER ART ETCHED CRYSTAL LARGE PAPER WEIGHT BLOCK RARE £10.00 |
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Etched 3D Cut Glass Crystal Ornament of Ballerina £1.99 |
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Pair of Art Nouveau Highly Etched Lead Crystal Pan Champagne Glasses £60.00 |
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Crystal Glass Laser Etched Fish Ornament (BNIB) sb06 £5.99 |
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VINTAGE ETCHED heavy Crystal or GLASS Sugar Bowl Fostoria? Berries £1.23 |
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EXQUISITE VINTAGE CUT & ETCHED CRYSTAL BISCUIT / BARREL £15.00 |
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A PRETTY HANDBLOWN ETCHED GLASS DELICATE VASE £15.99 |
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Crystal Glass Laser Etched Chinese Dragon Keyring BNIB £2.99 |
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Crystal Glass Laser Etched Twin Dolphin Keyring (BNIB) ckey 08 £2.99 |
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RARE ANTIQUE BOHEMIAN CZECH CRANBERRY CRYSTAL ETCHED GOLD CHERRIES DECANTER SET £205.66 |
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VINTAGE HAND CUT & ETCHED GERMAN LEAD CRYSTAL FOOTED BOWL £3.16 |
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LOT 104 LARGE VINTAGE ETCHED AND CLEAR GLASS OIL LAMP CHIMNEY £18.00 |
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KS Balmoral crystal 3d Laser World Sagittarius Etched Crystal Ball £1.99 |
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STUART CRYSTAL VASE ETCHED WITH FUCSHIAS MINT IN BOX £12.50 |
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Andromeda Spiral Galaxy 3-D laser-etched cut-glass crystal Cube – TAKARA KAIYODO £4.99 |
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ETCHED DRINKING GLASS (BRANDY) ‘CATS FACE’ £3.99 |
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Antique KOSTA BODA signed Elis Berg lead crystal Glass etched Viking Ship VASE £9.99 |
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Grehom Crystal Wine Glass Large – Creepers; Hand Etched Wine Goblets; Mouth Blown Crystal Glasses; Beautiful Gift £23.00 Grehom crystal glasses are special; all our crystal glasses are mouth blown in a single piece using glass with an optimised lead content to ensure sparkle and clarity. To ensure each glass is made to the highest standard the glass blowers go through several years of training before they make our crystal glasses. Although we sell beautiful plain crystal glasses, it is our hand etched crystal glasse… |
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Grehom Crystal Pilsner Glass – Creepers; Hand Etched Beer Glasses; Mouth Blown Crystal Glasses; Beautiful Gift £23.00 Grehom crystal glasses are special; all our crystal glasses are mouth blown in a single piece using glass with an optimised lead content to ensure sparkle and clarity. To ensure each glass is made to the highest standard the glass blowers go through several years of training before they make our crystal glasses. Although we sell beautiful plain crystal glasses, it is our hand etched crystal glasse… |
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Grehom Crystal Champagne Glass Gift Boxed Set – Creepers; Set of 2 Crystal Champagne Flutes; Hand Etched Crystal Glasses; Beautiful Gift £41.50 Grehom crystal glasses are special; all our crystal glasses are mouth blown in a single piece using glass with an optimised lead content to ensure sparkle and clarity. To ensure each glass is made to the highest standard the glass blowers go through several years of training before they make our crystal glasses. Although we sell beautiful plain crystal glasses, it is our hand etched crystal glasse… |
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Fostoria Fine Crystal and Colored Glassware: Cut, Etched and Plain 1925-1930 £16.10 … |
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Longridge ‘Longest Drive’ Crystal Golf Trophy £19.19 … |
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Engraved crystal in box £25.00 Laser engraved Glass Crystal in green Presentation Box …. |
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glass engraved blue base trophy large £45.00 Glass Award blue base Comes With Engraving on the glass . Also Comes With Presentation Box. 170mm Height…. |