Decorating with vintage milk glass is such a joy!
Nothing excites me more than eyeing a beautiful display of milk glass in an antique store. The milky white color just beckons you to come explore it!
I love decorating with milk glass. The simple white glass looks stunning against any backdrop, it’s super versatile, and each piece is unique.
But what is milk glass exactly and where did it come from? This blog post will give you a little background on milk glass, the different types that you can find, and how you can incorporate milk glass into your home as decor pieces!
Brief History of 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 can you tell if it’s 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!
Types of Milk Glass and How To Decorate With Them
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.
- Vases
Large and small vases can be found for less than $10 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!
- 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 on a table.
- Pitchers
Milk glass pitchers can be incorporated into your home in many different ways. You can use them as a vase to hold fresh flowers on the kitchen table, as a pen holder on a desk, as a kitchen utensil holder, or as a decorative piece on a shelf.
- 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. - Punch Bowls
These were popular for parties in the 1960’s. They are a fun addition to any milk glass collection, especially if you can find a set that has all 12 cups intact. - 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.
- Plates
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! - Covered Dishes
These include decorative sugar bowls and candy dishes. These 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, due to its white coloring, blends well with any style that you already have in your home.
It’s vintage appearance pairs well with modern decor, therefore making it an all-around beautiful antique to have in your home. I hope this inspires you to seek out some milk glass of your own. Each piece is a treasure and will add cheer to your space.
Leave me a comment! Do you love milk glass, too? I love hearing from you!
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!
29 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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[…] of this display, I used some of my favorite vintage pieces. On the jadeite saucer I placed a small milk glass cup and rounded it out with a collection of seashells that I have brought back from Florida over the […]
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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[…] You can read more about milk glass in detail here. […]
[…] with scalloped edges over it, making sure that some of the book color could still be seen. The milk glass banana stand filled with Tulips ties the whole look […]
[…] I added a shorter item on the right, I also placed a shorter item on the left, which is this milk glass […]
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