I've had a love affair with milk glass for about 20 years now. I've always loved the way the white glass mixes so well in tablescapes with other dishes and linens. The bright white pops and shows off whatever you're featuring whether it be food or flowers or something precious. At last count, I had over 50 pieces of every variety. The family even bought me the "Collector's Encyclopedia of Milk Glass" in 2002 so I could learn more about it.
Here's a little history from the book ... Milk glass was made as early as 1500 B.C. in Egypt and perhaps even earlier. Probably the first milk glass produced in this country was made at Jamestown, Virginia, about 1609. It was part of the fanciful beads produced to use in trading with the Indians. The peak years of milk glass popularity in the United States were 1895-1910, but of course, many companies continue to produce milk glass today.
So I did a little tour of the house and took some photos of my milk glass collection ...
Of all of my pieces, I probably use my cake stands the most. This square one is the perfect size for Bundt cakes.
We bought a pair of corner shelves at an antique auction when we lived in Denver that sit in our dining room. The dark wood really complements the white of the milk glass.
I have a pair of hobnail candlesticks that I use on the dining table which matches a scale that I've never really figured out what to do with ...
Love the vases and compotes filled with silk flowers and candles ...
I use them to hold toothpicks, salt and pepper mills, the dish scrubber and even fortune cookie bubble bath fizzies ...
I do use my milk glass for serving whenever possible ...
I love these salt dips, which I use for fresh ground pepper as well. Bought tiny silver spoons for them when we were in Acapulco ...
Although I've slowed way down on the collecting, whenever I get a chance to troll the antique malls or find something unique at a flea market, I still snap it up. I've received some beautiful pieces as gifts that are so special and made some amazing finds during vacations. It's always fun to see the different things you can find in other areas of the country.
The two plates shown in the last two pictures actually glow around the points when you hold them up to the light. Couldn't catch it on the camera, though I tried.
We have pieces scattered throughout this antique hutch (that needs some curved glass replaced) and I love the 3-tiered server edged in gold that sits on top.
So that's a little catalog of my collection. Any other milk glass lovers out there?
