13 Tips for Spotting Valuable Glassware at the Thrift Store

Many people who get into thrifting as a means to make extra money think reselling vintage clothing is the only way to go, but there are many valuable items you can pick up at your local thrift store and resell for a profit — including glassware.

Not all glassware you find while thrifting will be worth much — but these 13 tips can help you separate what’s valuable and what you should probably leave on the shelf.

When perusing the glassware aisle, pick up the items and feel how heavy they are. Valuable pieces of glassware, like crystal, will be heavier than other items.

You may be able to resell a nice crystal bowl or some glasses for upward of $40 on eBay. A vintage crystal champagne flute is even listed for nearly $100 currently.

You may be able to gauge the value of a piece by looking up the brand, as some popular glassmakers tend to make more than others on the resale market.

For example, look for the markings of early 20th-century giants like Fenton Art Glass Company. Several of its vases, bowls, and decorative items are listed for upward of $100 on eBay.

A quality piece of crystal will also look different than other glass items when held up to light.

While browsing, hold the glassware up to the light to check for a rainbow prism. Using this technique, you should also be able to tell if the glass has any cloudiness (crystal is extremely clear).

Flaws in glassware, like bubbles and visible seams, may actually make it more valuable (though you should not find these in crystal).

Many collectors look to buy Depression glass, colorful glassware produced during the Depression, when many families could no longer afford fine china. Some Depression glass may have tiny bubbles or seams since these products were mass-produced.

Another way to determine if a piece you’re eyeing is crystal is a “tap test.”

Crystal and standard glass make different sounds when you give them a tap with your finger. Crystal pieces will make more of a reverberated ringing sound, while glass will sound duller.

We already mentioned that Depression glass can be valuable if you find the right collectors, but other colored glassware could help you make a profit.

Jadeite pieces, which have a mint green hue, and other colorful, vintage glass bottles, are often sought after by collectors.

Another valuable type of glassware is known as “milk glass.” These products, including vases, bowls, candle holders, and more, are typically white and can be somewhat translucent.

If you find translucent milk glass, that may indicate it’s older — and worth more. Milk glass with intricate patterns also tends to go for more on resale sites like eBay.

In addition to brand names, glassware sometimes has numbers on the bottom. Older pieces may also have a few clues about when they were made, including numbers and symbols that correspond with a specific manufacturer.

Your best bet is to look for identifying marks and look them up to see if you have a valuable piece.

How thick a glass is may also give you some clues about its value. Crystal glass can be made thinner than other types and, due to its lead content, is still very sturdy.

Try to compare the thickness of a piece you are considering to others in the shop. A thin, well-designed piece could be vintage crystal and worth a pretty penny.

Of course, there is the rare lucky thrifter who finds a beautiful set of vintage wine glasses and can resell them for a lot, but for the rest of us, it may be wiser to aim for larger pieces.

For example, glassware experts report that milk glass is quite common in thrift stores — but you can get more if you manage to find bigger pieces, like serving dishes and large bowls.

Some vintage Jadeite will actually glow in the dark (yes, really) and collectors may be more willing to shell out cash for these fascinating pieces.

This may be a bit difficult to test in the thrift store (unless you happen to walk around with a black light on you), but it’s something to keep in mind.

A pontil mark, or a circular mark found on the bottom of a piece of glassware, may indicate that the piece is more valuable as it means it was hand-blown (rather than made with a mold). A pontil mark may also indicate that the piece is older.

While you browse, keep an eye out for any names you recognize among the shelves of glassware. If you find the right antique Coca-Cola bottle, for example, you just may be able to resell it for a few hundred bucks on eBay.

Not all the glassware you find at your local thrift store will be worth much — in fact, much of it won’t. 

But if you look for in-demand collectors’ items, such as popular early 20th-century brands, Depression-era pieces, and handmade items, you could have a lucrative side hustle.