How to collect and care for champagne glasses
Andy McConnell, Antiques Roadshow glass specialist and owner of Glass Etc in Rye, shares his advice on how to buy antique glassware and keep it looking sparkly
Antiques relating to champagne make for an exciting collecting field, thanks to the huge assortment of ice buckets, decanters and drinking vessels available to buy. Pieces come in all shapes and styles and can create an impressive display. ‘ The diversity is extraordinary,’ says glass historian and dealer Andy McConnell. ‘ There’s such a wide variety of patterns; etched, engraved, cut, enamelled and plain.’ For a handmade champagne flute or coupe, expect to pay around £6.50 to £50 each. Due to the fragility of glass vessels, few survive from periods such as the Renaissance (which fetch into the thousands) but Victorian examples are common as they were hand made in large numbers. ‘ Victorian faux rock crystal glasses by Frederick Kny or William Fritsche – designers who both worked for Thomas Webb & Sons – tend to sell for about £600 to £800,’ says McConnell. He adds that it’s important to buy from a knowledgeable dealer as glassware was rarely signed before the 1920s and is thus di cult to identify. ‘Be careful,’ advises McConnell. ‘ Trust your instincts and avoid machine-made glass.’
To clean glasses, McConnell recommends warm water and washing up liquid and a soft scourer or cloth. ‘Cloudiness in glass is caused by hard water as the calcium carbonate from the water goes into the surface of the glass so dry glasses properly and never put them in a dishwasher.’ When it comes to choosing the finest champagne glass, McConnell says it’s down to personal taste. ‘ I prefer harlequin sets of antique glasses. That way you won’t mind when one gets broken. Each glass is also a souvenir from a past experience.’ He is in favour of collectors using their glasses, rather than letting them sit idly on a shelf.