Last Updated on October 18, 2024 by Rachel Granholm
On the hunt for lovely vintage glassware? Find what you need to know with these decorating ideas and collecting tips for milk glass!
I love decorating with milk glass. The simple white glass looks stunning against any backdrop, it’s super versatile, and each piece is unique. Join me as I give you a brief history of what vintage milk glass is as well as decorating ideas and collecting tips for milk glass!
History of Vintage Milk Glass
This opaque glass originated in Venice in the 16th century.
Not only does it come in white but in pink, blue, yellow, and brown as well. The white color that is most loved today became popular during the Victorian era and the Victorians are the ones who coined the term ‘milk glass’.
Companies such as Westmoreland, Fenton, and Anchor Hocking are most noted for producing this popular glass, making it in abundance!
How to Identify Vintage Milk Glass
How can you tell if milk glass is actually vintage and not a reproduction?
As you are perusing milk glass and want to know if it is a genuine vintage piece, meaning 1960’s and prior, hold it up to the light and look for the “Ring of Fire” imprint. It is characterized by iridescent reds, blues and greens.
Here is what the “Ring of Fire” looks like.
If you see this characteristic present on a piece of milk glass, it is real and worth purchasing!
Where to Find Vintage Milk Glass
I have slowly collected my milk glass over many years, sourcing each piece from:
- antique shops
- thrift stores
- flea markets
- garage sales
- estate sales
Thrifting for milk glass or buying it secondhand is my ‘go-to’ method for finding the pieces that I’m most interested in.
This also ensures you will be able to purchase the vintage glass that is within your budget!
Shop the Look
Decorating Ideas and Collecting Tips for Milk Glass
Below are some types of milk glass that you can find in antique and thrift stores as well as some ideas for how to use those pieces in your home.
Mixing Modern & Vintage: Milk Glass Accents for Every Room
Milk Glass Vases
Large and small vases can be found for less than $5 and come in a variety of styles like hobnail or ‘Stars and Bars’. Cute vessels like these add a beautiful vintage touch to your home.
Try clustering them on a kitchen or dining table for a pretty centerpiece or adding one with faux greenery in it to your bathroom counter!
Milk Glass Candlesticks
Candlesticks have such a romantic feel to them, don’t they?!
Vintage candlesticks are especially pretty when styled into a hutch, placed within a shelf vignette, or used on a dining table.
Whether you choose to use faux or real candles in them, old candlesticks bring nostalgic appeal to your home!
Milk Glass Banana Stands
The Victorians were known for wanting to have a dish for everything, hence a banana stand. You could use this type of milk glass for just that; to hold bananas or other fruits.
Banana stands are versatile for other purposes as well such as to hold keys on an entryway table or as a simple centerpiece.
Milk Glass Pitchers
Milk glass pitchers can be incorporated into your home in many different ways.
You can use them in ways such as:
- hold fresh flowers on the kitchen table
- as a pen holder on a desk
- kitchen utensil holder
- a decorative piece on a shelf.
Milk Glass Cake Stands
These are quite popular right now with milk glass collectors. You can find cake stands with wavy, lacy, and hobnail edges, making them versatile for all decor styles.
Cake stands are good pieces for layering or adding height to shelf displays.
Milk Glass Cruets
These little pieces were made to hold oil and vinegar during the Victorian era.
I have a hobnail pourer in my collection that is one of my favorites. They make beautiful display pieces on a side table or countertop.
Milk Glass Tableware
Milk glass dinnerware was never produced. However, plates were used as either serving platters or as home decor.
A pretty way to display milk glass plates is by creating a gallery wall using plate hangers and mixing in other colored antique plates such as Flow Blue or Jadeite!
Milk Glass Candy or Lidded Dishes
Lidded dishes include decorative sugar bowls and candy dishes. These types of glass are also very versatile pieces for your space.
They can be used in the kitchen to hold spices or loose leaf teas. You can also utilize them as a holder for jewelry, such as to hold rings by the kitchen sink!
Milk Glass Lighting
Vintage lamps, specifically of the milk glass variety, are endlessly useful.
I have thrifted many milk glass lamps over the years and, even though they have been in my home for many years, I don’t grow tired of them!
This vintage Fenton hobnail milk glass lamp, which I picked up for just $10, sits on a credenza in my living room and serves as one of the main sources of light in that area.
If you are in need of another lamp for your home, might I suggest purchasing one secondhand! Milk glass lamps are fairly easy to find. It will save you so much money as well as add lovely character to your space.
Creative Uses for Vintage Milk Glass In Your Home
Milk glass, due to its white coloring, blends well with any style that may be already present.
Vintage glass is a timeless classic that can work with any type of home decor and is always a conversation starter.
Closing Tidbits on Decorating Ideas and Collecting Tips for Milk Glass
It is my hope that these decorating ideas and collecting tips for milk glass are a help to you! Styling this vintage glass is an excellent way to add an interesting and unique flair to your home decor. It’s one of those items that can’t help but bring an old-fashioned charm to your home and it’s never going out of style.
Be encouraged to find the special nostalgia of the past and give these pieces new life, however that is for you.
Leave me a comment! Do you love milk glass, too? I love hearing from you!
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If you are new here, I’m Rachel, the writer and content creator here at The Antiqued Journey. I’m so happy to have you! I encourage you to stop by the ‘about me’ page to get to know me a little more. Here on the blog, you will find loads of inspiration for decorating with vintage and antique decor, simple DIY crafts and many thrifting adventures. If that interests you, I invite you to sign up for my e-mail. You will receive a free digital download as a thank you!
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60 Comments. Leave new
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I really enjoyed seeing how you styled your pieces. I am addicted to milk glass. As far as I can remember, it started when I was a child when I got 2 bedroom lamps–hobnail saucer base with a white hurricane shade with pink painted roses. One and a half books of green stamps each! Then I got some Westmoreland grape panel pieces for wedding gifts in ’73. Then a LONG period of dormancy. I just love when a dealer doesn’t care for MG; I grab it up as quick as I can. I had used a blue glass banana boat in my bathroom for fingertip towels at one time. I love using a pitcher as a flower vase as they are so heavy the peonies/lilacs/whatever can’t tip it over! Last year I put tealight candles into Westmoreland tall tumblers; the light was absolutely gorgeous! Putting the candles into a colored glass votive cup first is also lovely!
Hi Kathy!
I’m so happy you enjoyed reading this. I’m still adding to my collection monthly but I’m pretty choosy now on which pieces I pick up. They have to be super unique or ones that I’ve never come across before since I don’t have all that much space left. It’s just SO pretty and just adore the color of it. I’m happy to read about your collection and what pieces you have as well! Thanks so much for stopping by today and sharing in my affection of milk glass!
[…] I have found another piece of milk glass for my […]
[…] has the hobnail pattern on it, has a wavy or curvy edge and that is marked on the bottom OR has the ‘ring of fire’ present within the […]
[…] little thing is so cute! If you are new around here, I collect vintage milk glass, specifically with the hobnail pattern. I’m pretty sure I saw this at that antique store last […]
[…] to the next and it’s important that your stems look like that as well. The greenery in the milk glass vase above has different shades of green on the leaves. The variation in hues gives a feeling of […]
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I started collecting 20 + years ago with the grape pattern since that was my kitchen & dining room theme at that time. It’s packed away now. I continued to collect all other patterns, hobnail is my favorite & I have 3 lamps that work. I can’t resist at garage sales, thrift stores, etc but running out of room as well. 😀
Hi Teresa!
thanks so much for the lovely comment!! That’s so neat!! Hobnail is my favorite as well. I have 2 hobnail lamps and I LOVE them!!
I’m very choosey now, like you, on what I purchase because I don’t have much space left. They have to be unique, ones that I don’t already have, and no more than $10 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by today!! Hope you have a great week!
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[…] is that you can display it in a variety of ways. I chose to set mine on the mantel along with some milk glass, a candle, and a book for a simple winter mantel […]
[…] small shelf sets the tone for the rest of the house. My vintage milk glass collection is used extensively as well as greenery and cream-colored […]
[…] combines some of my very favorite vintage decor like milk glass and vintage books with her collection of vintage valentine cards. She does such an amazing job of […]
[…] me, cozy Winter decor includes vintage pieces such as milk glass and ironstone, greenery such as flocked trees, soft linens, various shades of navy blue and dark […]
[…] favorite way to source ‘new’ pieces to add to my growing collections. Whether it be milk glass, enamelware, creamers or copper, there’s just something special about bringing a found piece […]
[…] of ContentsOn the hunt for lovely vintage glassware? Find what you need to know with these decorating ideas and…History of Vintage Milk GlassHow to Identify Vintage Milk GlassWhere to Find Vintage Milk GlassShop […]
Great tips on milk glass, Rachel! Thank you for sharing what the “ring of fire” looks like. I think people hear those words but are not always sure what that means or how they can look for it when out shopping at thrift stores and antique malls. It’s been so much fun to watch your collection grow over the years. You’ve really added some beautiful pieces and they make a lovely addition to your home. Big hugs, CoCo
Hello!
Thanks so much! It’s endlessly fun to look for 🙂 I’m glad you appreciated the ring of fire…I haven’t found many other sources where that’s talked about and I always want to steer people in the correct direction!
Hi Rachel! I love milk glass and think it’s so pretty! I have a small collection and appreciate you sharing your expertise on the subject! You have so many great pieces, I especially love the banana stand!
Thank you!! The banana stand is probably my favorite, too:)
[…] I have found vintage books thrown in random boxes at the back of the store and in the kitchen section with dishes. […]
[…] week, on Tuesday, I shared a post all about collecting tips and decorating ideas for milk glass. If you’ve been around for any length of time, you probably know my deep love for this white […]
[…] The little shelf above hangs on the wall in the bathroom! I have displayed one of my very favorite milk glass pitchers with a jadeite […]
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[…] Fenton Glassware Company, started in 1907, has created over 150 patterns since its existence. Some of the notable glassware includes carnival and milk glass. The ‘hobnail’ style, which has a raised bumpy surface all the way around, almost like polka dots, is a famous Fenton design. Fenton is popular with collectors due to the range of styles and the prices are relatively low, typically under $100. Read more about milk glass! […]
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