How To Clean And Care For Figurines, Art Glass, Art Pottery And Other Fine Collectibles

When it comes to fine porcelain figurines such as Giuseppe Armani or Lladro, art glass collectibles such as Orient & Flume paperweights or art pottery such as Ephraim Faience vases you want to do everything you can to keep them in the best condition possible. Thankfully there are several easy and practical ways to do this.

Always keep figurines and art pottery out of direct sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight over time can fade their colors.

The best way to clean dust off of your figurines is with a small, soft bristled brush. A small artist paint brush or a makeup brush both work well.

Store your collectibles in an enclosed curio cabinet in order to minimize exposure to dust. If you do this you won't have to dust them nearly as often as you would if they're out in the open air. This also keeps them safe from children and pets.

The best way to clean a dirty figurine is with warm water, a mild dishwashing detergent and a soft cloth. Never use anything abrasive and never use a strong cleaner like bleach or any cleaner that has ammonia in it. These could lead to permanent damage to the figurine. If the figurine has an air hole put some tape over it to keep water from getting inside. If water gets inside the figurine it could lead to structural damage over time.

If cleaning a collectible item in your sink first lay a bath towel in the bottom of the sink. This way you'll have a cushion to protect against potential damage or breakage if you accidently drop it.

Never put a figurine in a dishwasher since a porcelain figurine is much more delicate than china dinnerware. A dishwasher is almost certain to cause permanent damage to it due to the high heat and water pressure.

Art glass items such as Orient and Flume paperweights and Swarovski Crystal glass figurines are much simpler to care for. A mild glass cleaner and a soft cloth is all you need to keep them in beautiful condition.

Art pottery such as Ephraim Faience and Roseville should be cleaned with warm water and a soft cloth only. No abrasives or strong cleaners should ever be used as these could damage the finish.

We truly hope these tips prove helpful and allow you to enjoy your favorite collectibles for many years to come!

Visit The Prudent Collector for more collectible advice and to find discount Lladro figurines, Swarovski crystal, discounted Orient and Flume art glass paperweights and vases and many other fine collectibles at bargain prices.

The History of the Beer Glass

It is well known that beer has been with mankind for a long time. As beer itself changed, expanded, and improved, so did the way in which we actually got the beer to our mouths. The earlier vessels man used for drinking included earthenware, pottery, carved out wood, and even sewn-together pieces of leather. As time went on, man saw small improvements in the quality of their beer glasses. Early Europeans living during the time of the Bubonic plague saw the creation of beer steins, which had an enclosed top on the steins to keep flies from landing in the brew and getting the person sick.

The development of glass may have been the most important aspect of the way beer glasses are made today. As beer glasses became more and more popular, consumers could actually see what they were drinking and demanded a lighter and more appealing look as well as taste. This led to the filtration of beers; people no longer wanted the coarse chunks that were often found in the earlier beers of the breweries. With this new, more aesthetically pleasing wave of !a href=http://www.beertaps.com> beer glasses!/a>, it seemed like beer steins were on the way out.

The development of glassware continued and produced a variety of beer glasses for all kinds of different beers. The most popular in the United States is the 16-ounce pint glass. It was originally used to fit the top of a Martini shaker, but bartenders soon found that as the brew flowed out of the beer taps the pint glass was the perfect vessel because it allowed for some of the carbonation to be released and allowed the aroma of the beer to be more pronounced. It is also favored for its storage capabilities; pint glasses can be stacked on top of each other and stored easily upright on shelves, quickly making them a favorite with the bartenders who ended up having to wash out each glass.

A drive to get people to buy their brand of beer by earlier breweries led to some unique and groundbreaking moves on the marketing and promotional front. Early breweries were often prohibited to give away beer or other rewards to their customers, but found that giving away beer glasses was a great way to reward customers and also to advertise for themselves. This led to the breweries producing beer glasses that were works of art unto themselves. The first were ornate and expensive; they would often have gold or silver embossed on the sides. Eventually, artists for the breweries began doing detailed etchings on the sides of the glasses or steins and even developed a method of firing enamel paint onto the beer glasses. These enameled glasses remain some of the most rare beer collectibles, even though they were made more recently than the others. Today, some of the beer collectibles and signs are worth thousands of dollars and sought out worldwide by eager collectors. Have you looked up in the top of Grandpa’s old drawer lately?

Michael Usry is a long-time beer lover and contributing author for "Beer Maniac" fanzine in Austin, Tx. He is also a top affiliate at beer tap handles, and german beer steins, websites for household draft beer accessories.

Vintage Fenton Carnival Glass

Carnival Glass has become a popular collectors item in recent years. Contemporary pieces are readily available at cheap prices. However, the vintage Carnival Glass is really what is popular with collectors. To give you some additional information on this American art form, I will discuss the history, manufacture, and values of this beautiful glassware.

Carnival Glass History

Early in the 20th century, Tiffany & Co. and the Steuben Glass Co. produced a hand-blown iridized glass that was very popular with their wealthy clientele. These items, were hand made and commanded extremely high prices. In 1907, the Fenton Art Glass Company began mass-production of a high-quality and low-cost iridized glass, similar to the items crafted by Tiffany and Steuben. The Fenton iridized glass which was available in numerous colors, including a unique red. Fenton was not the only manufacturer of iridized glass, but it was the largest producing the colorful glass in over 150 patterns.

With entry into Great Depression, iridized glass lost its popularity. The inventory of this glassware was subsequently deeply discounted and commonly given away in supermarket and cereal promotions. In addition, the glassware was given away in carnival games, hence, the subsequent name Carnival Glass.

Popularity of iridized glass resurged in the 1950s with dealers and collectors and it was during this period that this glassware gained the name Carnival Glass. Today, the glass is still manufactured by Fenton, and several other companies.

Other Carnival Glass Manufacturers

Fenton, Northwood, Imperial Glass, Westmoreland and Dugan are just a few companies that manufactured carnival glass. Some of these manufacturers stamped their pieces with a distinctive mark. However, most other manufacturers did not mark their goods leaving some vintage pieces impossible to authenticate. Today, because of competition, and high labor costs, few of these manufacturers still remain.

Carnival Glass Values

The vintage Carnival Glass manufactured early in the 20th century is, by far, the most valuable, and sought after pieces. Color and condition play a large role in determining value. Chips, cracks, manufacturing defects and repairs reduce the value. If an item is a rare color like aqua it is of more value than an item in marigold that is common. The Red Carnival Glass manufactured by Fenton is very rare, and popular with collectors. Punch bowl sets, because they consist of multiple items, command high prices if complete with all pieces.

Contemporary Carnival Glass can be acquired at very reasonable prices. Many of these contemporary pieces are reproductions of their vintage counterparts. Because of the low cost, contemporary pieces are more suitable for the wear and tear of everyday use. Traditionally, venues such as antique shops and flea markets have been the primary source for vintage Carnival Glass. Today, take a look at eBay for thousands of listings of both vintage and carnival glass at great prices. Remember, one persons trash is another persons treasure.

It is so ironic that at one point in time Fenton Carnival Glass was so common, it could hardly be given away. Today, some vintage pieces sell for thousands of dollars.

Ross Bassette is an experienced eBay merchant and collector of vintage Carnival Glass. If you enjoyed reading this article, please feel free to visit our website and find some great deals on Fenton Carnival Glass.
Vintage Fenton Carnival Glass

Hand Blown Art Glass

Elegant and "look at me" glass blowing

These types of art glass are indeed very popular home decor items and include glass pumpkins, bowls, goblets, vases, garden adornments, ring holders, perfume bottles, paperweights and glass paintings. They come in a huge range in terms of colors and design. You can also get custom installations in order to match the ambiance and space requirements of your room.

Types of hand blown art glass:

Painting in Glass: Hand blown glass paintings are marvelous pieces of art that are full of sophisticated beauty, enrichment of colors, magical brilliance and diligence. Until recently these stylish and classy glass paintings adored only the interiors of the royal and elites families. These hand blown glass paintings are distinguished for their eye-catching clarity, absolute brilliance and use of rich and bold colors and add an extra life to your living room.

Glass Bowls: ou can use your decorative hand blown glass bowls for flowers or just keep them in the room as a decorative accent. The base colors are mostly bright and bold that capture and refract rays of light and create a great ambience. Apart from using these marvelous hand blown art glasses as a pedestal or coffee table piece, you can also use them as wall hangings.

Paperweights: The hand blown paperweights come in rich and bold colors as well as in many shapes and designs. They add eye catching colors to your working desk, study table, window sill of your living room, or anywhere else you like to. You can even personalize these paperweights and give them as gifts.

Glass Pumpkins: The hand blown glass pumpkins make a great gift during Halloweens. They are usually bright orange in color and have a nice ribbed side with curly or twisted jade green stems. The best part of these hand blown glass pumpkins are that they are exclusive and hence no chance of two pumpkin being alike.

Cleaning and maintaining hand blown art glasses:

Keep these hand blown art glasses out of direct sunlight as that can fade their colors over time.

Use small and soft bristled brush while cleaning dust from your hand blown art glasses.

Use warm water and a mild dishwashing detergent along with a soft cloth to wash these delicate art glasses.

A bold and colorful hand blown art glass can change the ambience of your room and adds a sophisticated look.

Different Types Of Wine Decanter

Adding a wine decanter to your wine bar area will add depth and class to wine drinking. Wine decanters not only make red wines taste better, but they offer a very attractive vessel from which to serve wine to your visitors.

A decanter is a type of vessel that is used for holding decantation results. Decantation is the process where liquid from another vessel is poured into the decanter in order to separate a small volume of liquid that contains sediment from a larger volume of relatively clear liquid. In the process of decantation, the sediment is left in the original vessel and the clear liquid is transferred to the decanter.

Wine is a type of liquid that often must be decanted in order to remove excess sediment. All red wines, particularly young red wines, benefit from the oxygenation that takes place during the decantation process. An optimal decanting process involves trickling the wine down the walls of a decanter, which imparts fuller flavor while removing the unpleasant edge of the wine.

Most wine decanters are ornate and tall containers that are made to be very attractive vessels from which to serve wine. Wine decanters may come with a stoppered lid. Additionally, some wine decanters come with a built in rod that aids the decanting process.

Most wine decanters have a very upright and tall shape and are made of glass so that the process of decanting may be seen. One of the most popular materials to make glass wine decanters from is lead crystal. It should be noted, however, that lead crystal is no longer recommended for use in decanters, as the lead tends to seep into the liquid contained within the vessel.

Lead crystal is created by adding lead oxide to molten glass. This lead glass is manufactured because it increases the index of refraction over that of normal glass. This means that lead crystal has a much more 'sparkly' appearance than regular glass.

Though many people still use lead crystal decanters, I long ago gave mine away and have since switched to regular glass decanters, to avoid lead poisoning. If you think about it, most people have the same liquid sitting against the lead crystal for years at a time -plenty of time to absorb more than a healthy amount of lead, in my opinion.

Popular makers of lead crystal decanters are Waterford Crystal, Steuben Crystal, Baccarat Crystal and Steuben Crystal. These manufacturers of fine lead crystal decanters and other items have perfected the art of stunning lead crystal designs. If you opt to go with a traditional lead crystal decanter for your wine or liquor, I'd go with one of the tried and tested lead crystal manufacturers.

April Rounsville used to be a bartender with over 7 years of experience. She later retired to become a freelance wine critic and a writer for a number of wine books. In these books, she specializes on finding the right glassware and utensils for your bar. Visit http://www.ebarware.com for a list of "must haves" such as plastic
barware for your bar.

Between 1878 and 1933, Louis Comfort Tiffany was so popular that at least one of his vases or glass lampshades appeared in every American home that could afford them. However, tastes change, and what was once a beautiful status symbol became junk. It's ironic that what we now consider marvelous collectibles, and what taught Americans they could by great native-produced art objects, was briefly so out of fashion that it was thrown away.

The high point of Tiffany's career probably occurred in 1883, when he was asked by President Chester Arthur to decorate the White House itself. Tiffany had bronze ceilings, new curtains and carpets, mosaic fireplaces and a hall screen of opalescent glass put in.

Tiffany Lamps

While Tiffany glass is no longer used to decorate the White House, we do understand its value again. One of the most classic and recognizable types of Tiffany glass is his series of lamps. Usually made with naturalistic bronze bases and floral and insect-patterned stained glass, they've caught the imaginations of many. They're highly collectible, and depending on the lamp and its age, can bring a high price, too.

For instance, a single tulip table lamp, with a green and blue shade decorated in red and purple tulips, sold for nearly fifty thousand dollars. A red peony floor lamp sold for sixty-three thousand dollars, and a bronze poppy lamp for twenty thousand. The current market is extremely good for Tiffany lamps, but there are some important criteria for figuring out how much to pay for one, or what price to ask.

The condition of the lamp is important, since each shade is made out of several thousand pieces of glass. The rarity of the lamp and the pattern it's made in will also affect price, and some lamps have better coloration than others. That's an artifact of how they were made - the process of hand making Tiffany glass necessarily produces some pieces that are better.

Tiffany lamp shades have a delightful, warm look when turned on, so most collectors also use their Tiffany glass lamps. They have strong potential to be a good investment, too. Not just rich people can buy Tiffany lamps. For an investment of a few thousand dollars, you could own a basic Tiffany lamp that will only appreciate in value.

Watch Out for Fakes

The important thing to be aware of when collecting Tiffany glass is that there are many reproductions and fakes on the market. Learn all the hallmarks of real Tiffany glass and know that the lamp or other art glass piece you're buying the the real deal. Otherwise, your investment might turn out to be wasted. The good news is that Tiffany produced a lot of glass, so there are still plenty of pieces out there, waiting for the right collector.

Gold Aurene was only the first of these magnificent colored glasses, however. It was followed quickly by a large number of other colors and types. Eventually the Steuben Glass Works' range was produced in more than seven thousand different shapes and a hundred and forty colors. From 1903 until WWI, this manufacturer produced amazing glass types.

You can find a large selection of Steuben Glass works of art - Just visit our Steuben Glass Store.

Restrictions during wartime meant that it became hard to acquire materials needed for glass manufacture, resulting in the company being sold to Corning Glass Works, where it became the Steuben Division. However, the company's operation didn't change much, except that Corning attempted to limit articles made by the company only to the most popular lines. However, this was mostly unsuccessful, and production continued as usual until the early 1930s.

Phase Out of Colored Glass

A major management change occurred in 1932. Because of the Great Depression, Steuben glass sales had been limited. The general public was also becoming a lot less interested in colored glass. The management change resulted in the existing Steuben lines being replaced by primarily clear art glass. These lines continue to the present. While colored glass was still being produced to fill special orders, not many new colors were added. The last known colored art glass sale by Steuben was in the early 1940s.

New Glass Formula

In addition to the removal of colored glass from the Steuben production line, the direction forms were taking changed, as well. A new formula of glass that had been developed by Corning was more transparent and had a higher refraction index than just about any other type on the market. It resulted in designs that created a new look. Modernist and Art Deco themes were incorporated into the new pieces, and the transparency and glittering beauty of the new formula were capitalized on.

In the 1950s, a change occurred in the method of making Steuben art glass. Items were no longer cut and engraved, but formed into sculptural shapes. One of a kind decorative items were produced from the 1960s onward, increasing the demand for fine Steuben glass.

One Hundred Years of Operation

Steuben is still producing art glass, and celebrated its hundredth year of operation only a few years ago. It's the premiere manufacturer of art glass in the U.S. In July of 2008, the company was sold by Corning. The buyer was the Schottenstein Stores Corporation. However, production is slated to continue in the old factories, with the same staff. All that's changing is the management. That means that Steuben glass collectors won't have any problem getting their old favorites.

Important Interior Design Tips

Many people think that interior design is a very complicated and difficult project and it's not possible for them to do it by themselves. That's why so many people pay a so called professional a lot of money to come and help them out.

You do not need a professional to help you at all, you can get lots of ideas from everywhere. All you need to do is spend some time working out how you should incorporate the ideas and make them work in your own home. It's important to spend time coordinating everything so that it all ties together nicely.

When you have a coordinated room then you can start introducing new ideas and designs into your home. Then you have created your own design so don't really need to pay a professional hundreds of dollars to do what you can do for free.

Be Observant

Whenever you are out, wherever you are you should be on the lookout for new exciting ideas that you can use in your home. There are influences for interior design which can be drawn from virtually anywhere. If you actually hired a professional then you might hear them say that they have seen a great idea and think it could work well in this space, if the professionals do it why shouldn't you? Just spend some time looking around and see what you like. If there's something you like consider the possibility of recreating it in your own home.

You can find interior design ideas everywhere, if you see something that interests you then just study it for a few minutes. Decide whether or not this would work well in your home. If you go somewhere that has unique interior design then spend some time trying to work out exactly how they achieved the look. Sometimes very elegant beautiful designs can be created fairly easily.

Getting Inspiration from Other sources

You don't have to settle for what other people have already done when looking for interior design inspiration. You can also draw your inspiration from nature, if you are willing to spend time looking around. You might of seen a tree in the autumn and seen it's true beauty. You might want to create a similar look for your own home.

You will never know what you want until you start being aware of all the influences around you. You can then get down to experimenting on your home in controlled areas so you can decide what works the best. Professionals will also practice before they decide what to do.

Whenever you go out you need to keep your eyes open for new inspiration which might be useful for interior design. From fancy shower curtains to floor designs, ideas can be found anywhere. You don't need to hire an expensive designer to get the job done, you can do it all by yourself if you have enough time and experience.

There are a number of notable glassmaking sites, both historical and recent. Bohemia manufactured a lot of outstanding high Baroque glass in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. Bohemia has also been the home of some glass innovations. It was Caspar Lehmann, Emperor Rudolf II's gem cutter, who invented the technique of engraving glass with bronze and copper wheels, much the same as it had been done on gems.

Abundant natural materials, used to make pristine glass, were discovered in the Renaissance in Bohemia. It's been produced since, and you'll find hand cut glassware for sale everywhere in Bohemia. However, you should be careful to check that the glass you're buying is the real thing. Even in the region where Bohemian glass is produced, imports from China and other locations are sold at inflated prices, and aren't as high quality as real Czech glass.

If you pay attention, however, you'll be able to find real, high quality Bohemian glass, from cut glass goblets and bowls to hand decorated ornaments. Most Bohemian glass is decorated intricately, and may be hand-cut and painted, decorated with rhinestones, wheel engraved or plated with gold. You may see these techniques used alone, or in combination. They're the result of a lot of study and skill, since it takes four years of training merely to become glass painter.

The reason that Bohemia is so famous for its glass is due to the natural resources found there. Early on, glassmakers in Bohemia discovered that using local potash and chalk made a completely clear, colorless product that was a great deal more stable than Italian glass of the time. That's when Bohemian glass first was noticed by the European market. Much of this Bohemian glass was lead free, and could be easily cut with a wheel.

Bohemian crystal has been famous for its amazing quality and the delicacy of its ornamentation. By the mid-19th century, Bohemia had a system of glass making training that attracted foreign glassmakers, and began exporting large quantities of colored glass across the globe.

Most of these pieces were mass produced. Commonly, pairs of vases made in one or two colors of opaque glass and decorated in enameled floral patterns were exported. Some were also decorated with lithographs. People in Europe and America mail ordered these inexpensive art pieces for their homes, adding a little touch of beauty.

Even in the Communist period, glassworking remained high quality. That's because the governments considered this art innocuous. Bohemian traditional glassmaking continues into the present day. The area has one of the most respected glassworking school systems there is, and many pieces are exported to other countries. As with most types of art glass that are still being produced, this means that collectors should pay careful attention to what they're buying.

New pieces can closely resemble old ones. While new Bohemian glass is beautiful and collectible in its own right, antique buyers should know what they're paying for. However, that's just one more reason to learn all you can about this beautiful form of glasswork.

Fenton art glass produced between 1905 and 1920 tends to bear the influence of Steuben and Tiffany glass, both famous art glass producers at the time. However, Jacob Rosenthal, a famous glass chemist, was responsible for developing the many colors that Fenton glass came in.

Carnival Glass

Fenton was also the first to bring carnival glass onto the market. This iridescent glass became extremely popular and is very collectible. Fenton has produced over a hundred and thirty patterns of carnival glass in its history.

Hobnail Glass, Crests & More

Fenton produced mostly practical items during the Depression and during WWII. That's because there were many shortages and luxury items weren't in demand. However, they kept coming up with new colors. During the 1950s, Hobnail milk glass became the company's most popular line. These are collectible pieces, but they aren't as valuable today as other Fenton art glass. Some lines produced by the company, called "crest" lines, are more valuable. The Ebony Crest line is especially collectible, as are very early Fenton pieces.

Interested in purchasing Fenton Glass online? We offer a huge selection in our Fenton Store.

These pieces are made with an opaque glass base and a clear or colored border ruffle for interest. Clear ruffles are called Silver Crest, green are Emerald Crest, and white and black are Snow and Ebony Crest pieces, respectively.

Fenton Logo After 1974

In the 1970s, the company began adding their logo to the bottoms of some pieces. This helped them be identified from older pieces. Any piece of Fenton art glass made from 1974 onward will have this logo. If a piece was made before this time, it was marked with a paper label. That means that older pieces will usually be unmarked, since the label has likely worn away.

Pieces made during the 1980s will have an 8 added under the logo, and in the 1990s, a 9 was used. Some lines have been produced for many years, resulting in newer, less valuable pieces looking much the same as antiques. That makes identifying valuable Fenton art glass tricky in some cases.

Recently, the Fenton glass company has had difficulties, and planned to stop production in 2007. However, unexpected customer response has allowed them to stay in business longer. They allow visitors to come to their museum and factory, which are still located in West Virginia.