Glass

Overview

Glassware remains an important category in our specialist auctions, attracting specialist collectors. From 17th and 18th century table glass through to mid-century Scandinavian and modern British or Italian designer glass, demand continues to be strong across a wide range of collecting periods.

Georgian and 18th Century Drinking Glass

We recently sold a small collection of George III drinking glasses, which attracted significant interest from collectors and enthusiasts of early English glass. Demand was particularly strong for opaque twist drinking glasses, with both an opaque spiral twist cordial glass and an opaque spiral twist ratafia glass selling for more than £600 (+BP) each.

The market for 18th century drinking glasses, Georgian wine glasses, and rare examples of English table glass remains highly discerning. Quality, rarity and provenance continue to drive competitive bidding, demonstrating that collector demand has remained resilient.

French Art Glass: Lalique, Daum and Emile Gallé

The market for French Art Nouveau glass and French Art Deco glass continues to perform exceptionally well. Renowned makers including Daum, Lalique and Émile Gallé consistently command strong prices at auction.

Our highest price for a Daum piece was £3,500 (+BP) for an impressive pillow vase decorated in the celebrated Rain Landscape pattern.

An Émile Gallé opalescent scent bottle achieved £1,800 (+BP), while our highest result for a Lalique piece to date is £5,000 (+BP) for the iconic Vitesse glass car mascot, which was first introduced in 1929.

Mid Century Modern, Scandinavian and Italian Design Glass 

Italian glass continues to be one of the strongest areas of the mid-century modern market. Pieces by celebrated makers such as Venini are highly sought after for their exceptional craftsmanship, bold colours and innovative design. One example includes a vase designed by Monica Guggisberg and Philip Baldwin, which sold for £2,800 (+BP). Quality Murano glass also consistently attracts competitive bidding, as seen with a Murano glass sculpture that achieved £1,350 (+BP).

Scandinavian glass remains a firm favourite with collectors and interior designers alike. Leading manufacturers including Kosta Boda, Iittala, Oiva Toikka, Orrefors and Holmegaard are renowned for their clean lines, understated elegance and exceptional quality.

British studio and factory glass has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, with Monart and Whitefriars glass proving particularly popular. Rare colours, unusual forms and iconic designs continue to achieve strong auction results as interest in post-war British glass grows. One of our standout sales was a Geoffrey Baxter for Whitefriars tangerine Banjo vase, which realised £700 (+BP). Other sought-after Baxter designs, including the Totem and the affectionately nicknamed Drunken Bricklayer, remain highly collectable while offering more accessible price points for both new and established collectors.