Vintage glassware can add a little charm to any home, but sourcing the right pieces can be challenging. If you’re wondering what to look for when buying vintage glassware, keep reading for expert insights.
But first, why is vintage glassware trending in 2026? According to design experts, adding antiques to your decor is an effective way to make your home feel more personal and charming. Just think of how chic it would be to pull out a set of vintage cocktail glasses at your next party!
Additionally, vintage glass is statement-making but approachable. While finding space for a vintage chair or antique console table can be impossible in many homes (not to mention costly), nearly anyone can find space in their home and budget for a vintage vase or decorative bowl.
We also asked experts for tips on how to care for your vintage glass pieces. While some antiques can actually be more durable than modern-day items, they’re generally not meant to be put in the dishwasher or microwave, for instance. Like many antique kitchen items, your glassware is probably going to require hand washing.
Below, experts identify the vintage pieces you’ll want to look for the next time you’re browsing charity shops or antique markets.
Vintage glassware to collect
Handblown glass bowls
There are particular vintage glassware pieces that are trending and it’s easy to see why. Some glassware is particularly colourful or distinctive, making it the star of the show in a space. People are enjoying colourful mid-20th-century handblown bowls from Murano, Italy, says Nora Curl, JustAnswer fine art and antiques expert and accredited appraiser. In past eras, they were used as boiled-sweet bowls and can still serve the same purpose today.
Swung vases
With their elongated necks, irregular, petal-shaped mouths and vibrant hues, it’s hard to miss a mid-century swung vase. Spotted frequently on episodes of Mad Men, these vases have grown in popularity. Sebastian Frost of @NomadicFindsVintage is an avid glassware collector and seller, and says he frequently sells swung vases in his booths from the likes of Viking, LE Smith and Fenton.
Retired Swarovski crystal
Headquartered in Austria, the Swarovski brand was started all the way back in 1895 and is still going strong today. But, according to Bob Lang, president of Blue Moon Estate Sales, vintage Swarovski crystal has become collectible. Be on the lookout for Swarovski crystal candlesticks, drinking glasses and figurines that were manufactured before 1980.
Cocktail glasses
‘Instead of “cookie cutter” fast-trend glasses from big-box stores, you can show your personality by carefully curating a collection of mid-mod cocktail glasses for your home bar,’ Nora says. Look for glasses with charming atomic shapes or groovy florals, and owls from the maker Georges Briard, along with ones with gold detailing from Libbey.
Jadeite
The green opaque milk glass jadeite has made a major comeback recently, with even Martha Stewart mirroring vintage designs. To score real-deal vintage jadeite pieces, Nora recommends looking for maker marks on the bottoms of mugs and bowls, with names like Fire-King, McKee and Jeanette. She also suggests ‘feeling the heft of the piece itself’.
Buying & maintenance tips
✔️ Consider practical uses. While it’s fun to beautifully display vintage glassware, be mindful of their utilitarian uses, so you’re interacting with them regularly. ‘A baseline start is to consider what items would bring you joy and why,’ Nora says.
✔️ Shop in-person. ‘The best place to find quality pieces is at vintage and antique stores,’ Sebastian says. ‘You can also get lucky at estate sales, charity shops and car boot sales. Online shopping websites, such as eBay, Etsy, Facebook, Instagram, Vinted and others, can also be used, but postage prices start to add up, and it saddens me when amazing pieces break while shipping.’
✔️ Practise ‘slow’ maintenance. ‘Vintage glassware, though durable, needs to be maintained more slowly,’ Nora points out. ‘Hand-washing and drying pieces takes longer, yet prolongs the life of the item for generations to come.’ Bob adds that it’s important to take care with pieces with coloured details, such as carnival glass, with its iridescent, spray-on finish that can be ruined by cleaning agents or high heat.
✔️ Do your homework. ‘It’s important to do your research,’ Sebastian says. ‘I have collected books and websites that I use as references often.’
✔️ Look for valuable pieces. If you find vintage glassware for a steal at a car boot sale, you might be pleased to know that it’s worth a lot more than you paid. ‘Some colours such as red or orange or jadeite may be worth more, as they were sometimes more expensive to produce or less frequently developed,’ Bob says. ‘Similarly, painted pieces are often more rare with handcrafted details.’