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How to collect vintage barware
Where to start, what to look for and how to buy vintage barware safely.
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These guides are for buying and using vintage barware: what each piece is, what a complete and undamaged example looks like, and how to buy one safely.
Most collections start in one of two places. Collecting vintage crystal decanters covers marks, stoppers and condition, with focused guides to wine vs spirit decanters and antique tantalus sets. Vintage cocktail glasses sorts glasses by shape, from the coupe to the Nick and Nora and the highball; Difford’s Guide says a few shapes cover most drinks, so a matching set of one shape is a sensible first buy.
For the table and for hosting, see vintage punch bowls, holiday table glassware and a mid-century home bar setup. Gift ideas are sorted by person in vintage barware gifts and by occasion in vintage host gifts. Before any purchase, read how to buy vintage barware on eBay safely and how to tell if vintage glassware is valuable.
Vintage coupe glasses to start a set
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- No. 01
Vintage Cocktail Glasses: Coupes, Nick and Nora, Martini and Rocks
A collector's guide to vintage cocktail glass types: coupes, Nick and Nora, martini, highball, old fashioned, flutes and cordials, with sizes and what to check.
Collecting guides - No. 02
Collecting Vintage Crystal Decanters: A Buyer's Guide
How to judge a vintage crystal decanter: maker marks, age, stoppers, condition and safe buying, with guides to Baccarat, Waterford and tantalus sets.
Collecting guides - No. 03
Antique Tantalus Sets: What They Are and What to Check
What a tantalus is, who made the best-known ones, and what to check before buying: the lock and key, matching decanters and stoppers, wood and mounts.
Collecting guides - No. 04
Nick and Nora Glasses: The 1930s Shape and Vintage Versions
What a Nick and Nora glass is, where the name came from in 1987, how it differs from a coupe and a martini glass, and how to find a vintage one.
Collecting guides - No. 05
Vintage Highball Glasses: Highball vs Collins and Decorated Sets
How a vintage highball glass differs from a Collins, what decorated mid-century tumbler sets look like, and how to use and wash painted glass safely.
Collecting guides - No. 06
Wine vs Spirit Decanters: How to Tell Vintage Decanters Apart
How to tell a vintage wine decanter from a spirit decanter: shape, stopper, labels, ship's decanters and claret jugs, with museum examples and buying checks.
Collecting guides - No. 07
Holiday Table Glassware: Which Glasses to Set for Thanksgiving
Which glasses a Thanksgiving or Christmas place setting needs, where the water goblet and wine glasses go, how many to have and how to mix vintage sets.
Collecting guides - No. 08
Vintage Host and Hostess Gifts: Barware to Bring to Dinner
Vintage host gift ideas by occasion, from Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving to New Year's Eve: small barware sets, what to check and how to give them.
Collecting guides - No. 09
Vintage Punch Bowls: Glass, Crystal and Silver Sets With Cups
How to choose a vintage punch bowl set: pressed glass, cut crystal, silver plate and Tom and Jerry sets, what a complete set includes and how to serve from it.
Collecting guides - No. 10
Mid-Century Home Bar Setup: Bar Carts, Ice Buckets and Glassware
How to set up a mid-century home bar: choosing a vintage bar cart, a silver-plate ice bucket and glassware, plus a checklist for holiday hosting.
Collecting guides - No. 11
The Vesper Martini Glass: Bond's Champagne Goblet and Vintage Picks
What glass the Vesper is served in: Fleming's deep champagne goblet explained, how it differs from a coupe or martini glass, and how to buy a vintage one.
Collecting guides - No. 12
Vintage Barware Gifts for the Host, the Martini Purist and More
Vintage barware gift ideas by person: the mid-century collector, the martini purist, the whiskey drinker, retirees and newlyweds, with what to check first.
Collecting guides - No. 13
Vintage Whiskey Glasses and Decanters: Rocks Glasses and Gift Sets
How to choose vintage whiskey glasses and decanters: rocks glass sizes, crystal patterns, decanter sets, and gift ideas for groomsmen and the best man.
Collecting guides - No. 14
How to Tell If Vintage Glassware Is Valuable
How to tell if vintage glass is worth money: maker's marks, how it was made, condition, rarity and demand, plus which glass collectors seek most today.
Collecting guides - No. 15
Vintage Cocktail Shakers: Cobbler, Boston and Parisian Styles
The three cocktail shaker styles explained, why many bartenders use Boston or tin-on-tin shakers, and how to collect sterling, plate and Art Deco shakers.
Collecting guides - No. 16
Vintage Colored Glassware: Cobalt, Ruby, Amber, Uranium and Gold Rim
What gives vintage cobalt, ruby, amber, green, pink and uranium glass its color, which colors collectors seek most, and how to care for gold rim barware.
Collecting guides - No. 17
How to Buy Vintage Barware on eBay Safely
A step-by-step guide to buying vintage decanters, crystal and silver barware on eBay: questions to ask, reading feedback, and using the Money Back Guarantee.
Collecting guides
Frequently asked questions
What vintage barware should I collect first?
Start with what you will use. A matching set of four or six glasses in one shape, or a decanter with its original stopper, is easier to judge, use and resell than a mixed group of singles.
Is it safe to buy vintage barware on eBay?
eBay's Money Back Guarantee covers an item that does not match its listing if you paid through eBay checkout and report the problem within 30 calendar days of the actual or estimated delivery date. Ask for close photos of marks, rims and stoppers before you buy.
Sources
Affiliate disclosure
Vintage Barware is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links: when you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase through our links. Commissions never decide what we recommend or how we rank it. Listings and prices come from our partners and change often, so check the price, condition and seller on the retailer's page before you buy. Read how we make money.