Collecting Cranberry Glass
A number of years ago, my mother-in-law gave me some of her mother’s cranberry glass collection. It’s now one of my favorite things to collect.
I had found a few pieces at the flea market and when my mother-in-law gave me some of her family heirloom cranberry glass, a collection was born. Anytime I go to an antique flea market or vintage store, I look for it. It’s fun to have something specific to hunt for and cranberry glass is easy to spot!
I have loved colored glass for a very long time. And it all started with just a single goblet.
If you aren’t familiar with cranberry glass, you will know it when you see it. The color is amazing and unforgettable.
The color is the most spectacular deep pink. While I started my collection with just a few pieces and then had some gifted to me, I have found additional pieces over the years. And guess what?
I have been focused on collecting drinking and wine glasses and I now have collected enough glasses to set a table!
But here’s the problem. This is the only thing I collect that I am afraid to use.
Some of the glasses have a few small chips on the top rim and I haven’t used them yet. About a year ago one of the cranberry goblets broke the very first (and only) time I used it.
So now, I am nervous to use them.
I have decided that I need to bite the bullet and just use the beautiful glassware. It’s just too pretty to collect dust in a cabinet. Setting a table with cranberry goblets always looks so amazing!
I also might hunt for a few more glasses at the flea markets just so I can have a few replacement goblets if I need them.
What is Cranberry Glass?
Cranberry glass or ‘Gold Ruby‘ glass is a pinkish-red glass made by adding gold salts or colloidal gold to molten glass. Tin, in the form of stannous chloride, is sometimes added in tiny amounts as a reducing agent.
There is no doubt the most distinguishing feature of any piece of cranberry glass is its color. By adding gold chloride to hot molten glass, glassmakers created different shades, varying from pink to burgundy. The pieces often have a deeper hue by the neck of the vase or near the edge of the bowl, indicating where the glass was blown from.
How Much Do Cranberry Goblets Cost?
A lot of cranberry glass, such as pitchers and vases, is expensive. As in over $100 per piece.
Most of the glassware (drinking and wine) is less expensive. I just checked on ebay and the thumbprint glasses (which can be seen above) range from $10 to $15 each.
Etsy has by the far the best selection of cranberry goblets. Some of the glasses are $5.00 each and they have excellent inventory.
And I have a confession. When I was looking at the Etsy site for this blog post, I found more of the glasses I own! So I bought some. And, well, I also bought a new set of the coolest new cranberry goblets ever. I can’t wait to share them with you.
And by the way, I promise I didn’t buy them all.
Where Can you Find Cranberry Glass?
I love to shop flea markets and there is no doubt that you can find cranberry glass at local vintage flea markets. Some of the best deals on cranberry glass are at garage sales and antique shops.
As I mentioned, you can find cranberry glass online on eBay and on Etsy.
Just be sure and check to see if there are any chips. It’s important to know what you are buying. Of course, also check the shipping costs.
Most of the glasses for sale are vintage cranberry. But there are a few newer glasses. It’s not too hard to tell the difference, and most sellers state if it is new or old.
I don’t suggest that you get too caught up in patterns and age and color. Just buy what you love.
You can’t lose if you always buy what you love.
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You can use a very fine Emory board (nail file)to smooth out chips in your candberry glass. If u are very careful you will not be able to see the chip. For large chips use corse files. Sand paper will work but very hard to be careful.
Greta
So pretty! I have similar wine goblets and champagne glasses, but in blue glass. They were my grandmother’s and were a wedding gift. I’m also hesitant to use them. Very fragile – but beautiful.
I have several cranberry glasses, various sizes and shapes that I am interested in selling. Would you be interested or know a place I could contact in Dallas, TX?
I might be interested. To start a collection for one of my daughters. They are just beautiful. They both live in Keller.
Maybe you can send me what you’re interested in selling and prices. My email address is: [email protected]
Thank you!
I am not selling any. But go to the Etsy link in my blog post. That have a lot.
Leslie
i might be interested in purchased some of your cranberry glasses.
I have the same cranberry wine glasses. So fragile! They were my grandnother’s wedding present from the early 1930s. I only have 5 left. 🙁
These are amazing! They used to cost a fair amount but now that collecting has fallen out of style you can find them at a reasonable price. Thanks for sharing these beautiful pieces!
ihave a cranberry glass collection approx 80 pieces looking to sell
Love to see your glass
I decided many years ago that I would use all my glass ( I have a lot) cranberry, crystal, green, blue, love it all. To this day we use it daily and I truly do not become sad if anything is broken, I am just happy to use it and wash it and take pleasure from it, plus, everything tastes go good in great glasses . Use it at christmas and all holidays, enjoy it all xx
I love that, Angela, thank you so much for sharing!
They are absolutely beautiful I do have another comment when your blog pops up it also Has a pop-up for if you want further decorating information or something like that which I’ve asked for before and never got it but the problem is when the pop-up comes up it’s very difficult even when you’re tapping on the little X at the top for it to go away I’m not sure if your website developer can help with that but it sometimes it takes me so long I don’t even look at the rest of your site just for your information Leslie
So MANY blogs now have this as well. I have the same problem. I don’t think it’s a glitch but an intentional thing. I wish it would go away! Some websites you can’t even read the post because it interferes with viewing so much! Definitely has decreased my blog reading! Leslie, your posts I love so much that I just grit my teeth and endure this annoying feature!☺️
Hey Leslie, I remember seeing all of your cranberry glass in your butlers pantry, it is just beautiful.
I have had luck taking my glasses with small chips at the edge to our local ‘once a month’ Scott’s Antique Market. They have a craftsman there who will polish out the small chips for just a few dollars per glass. (And he will also let you know if it’s too far gone to save:0))
What gorgeous hues!
I have the most perfect china that would match them perfectly – a complete (I mean totally every kind of piece you’d ever need) for 12 in a floral with hot pink as predominating color. Those gobs would be so lovely with them.
Too bad they’re so pricey! I just use my olive green ones, or clear. How I would love to see those with them, tho. Just beautiful, Leslie!
Such a beautiful color- Spring and Christmas tables ! I have a lot of Waterford and barely have the space to store everyday dishes and glassware to Spode Christmas dishes and lots of stemware My question is where do and how do your gorgeous dishes and glassware?
Pilgrim Glass of Huntington WV, which went out of business several years ago, made beautiful cranberry glass.
Love all the info shared and your blog. I have several cranberry pieces, maybe 25-30. All vases and pitchers plus one large bowl. Years ago while traveling we visited the Pilgram Glass factory in Ohio. Sadly it is closed now but that’s where I fell in love with this beautiful shade of glass.
Beautiful! This blog motivated me to venture into other colors for the Fall. Thank you!
Cranberry glass is beautiful. I haven’t used it in a while but used to set my Thanksgiving table with it. You’ve inspired me to use it again 🙂