Q&A for How to Identify Milk Glass

If it predates milk glass, it's likely porcelain. Milk glass was originally created as a more affordable alternative to porcelain.

Milk glass was never used to make sets of dishes, it was only used for more decorative pieces and serving pieces. So if you have a set of dishes, it's not milk glass—it's simply white opaque glass. As for whether it's worth anything, you might take it to an appraiser and find out.

No, lots of milk glass doesn't have any maker's mark on it. In fact, you'll actually see fakes produced that do have a signature or maker's mark on them where that particular manufacturer normally wouldn't have included one. The people who produce these are trying to pass them off as originals from famous makers when they really aren't.

EO Brody milk glass is definitely collectible, with most pieces fetching $20-30. The key to getting the best price for your EO Brody milk glass is to connect with the right buyer who needs the piece that you have.

Colony is a particular pattern by Indiana Glass, which was one of the major manufacturers of milk glass in the US. It's not at all inferior. In fact, full sets (such as a punch bowl with all the matching cups) often fetch top dollar.

If you can see through the plate, then it's not milk glass. Milk glass is opaque with a creamy color.

If it is pressed glass, it has seams. If it is blown glass, it won't have seams. Real milk glass can be either pressed or blown glass.

No. Most early milk glass is not marked. Various companies began marking their glass in the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s.

A milk glass is usually pretty easy to identify, even though there are a variety of styles and designs. Unlike typical glass, milk glass isn’t completely translucent and is only slightly opaque. The color should look smooth and not painted on. Milk glass typically comes as a creamy white, light blue, pink, or black. Hold the glass up to the light to see if it looks slightly translucent. The light should shine through milk glass. There also may be ornate patterns and decorations on the outer surface of the glass.

Usually, you can find a sticker that will identify a milk glass as Fenton glass. Check near the bottom of the glass for an oval sticker with the word Fenton on it. There also may be an oval stamp in the glass with the word Fenton on it to identify it as Fenton glass. If there a sticker or a stamp, look on the bottom for an engraved "F" or the word "Fenton."

A simple way to check if a milk glass is truly an antique is to hold it up to natural lighting. A real milk glass should be slightly translucent. The light should shine through milk glass. An antique milk glass will have an iridescent rainbow in the rim of the glass. To be absolutely sure, you can have the glass examined by an antiques expert.