🪞 Why I Never Walk Past Old Glass
I’ve been rescuing glass for nearly 30 years, but my love for it started long before that.
As a young adult I used to walk through the fancy department stores and stop to stare at the colorful glass displays — ruby reds, emerald greens, and those fun Murano swirls..
I couldn’t afford any of it back then, but I loved the way glass caught light and turned it into art. One day, in my 30's, by pure happenstance, I went to a neighborhood auction and bought a box of pretty glass pieces. That single box started something I never expected — a lifelong hunt to save, understand, and rehome forgotten glass treasures.
To be honest, I lived in a great stomping ground for finding old glass, Ohio! Just to the northeast of us was where the old glass trail started. I was 20 minutes from the old Heisey Glass Museum, just over an hour from Cambridge and Fostoria. It helped, a lot.
💰 Not All Old Glass is Gold
Let’s get one thing straight: not all old glass is valuable just because it’s old.
The market has changed a lot in the last couple of decades. Many pieces that were worth a small fortune 20 years ago are now just modestly priced collectibles.
But that doesn’t make them any less beautiful or less worthy of saving. As I always tell people — everything is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
That’s especially true with vintage glass. You might have a Fenton vase, Indiana Glass bowl, Hazel Atlas candy dish, or Westmoreland compote — all beautiful, all with their own stories — but their value depends on color, pattern, condition, and demand.
Quick Tips for Identifying Old Glass:
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Look at the weight — older glass is heavier and feels solid
- The glass is often more clear, not hazy, or cloudy
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Check for maker’s marks or mold seams, seams feel clean (if there are seams)
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Study the color — purple, orange, and slag-style hues can be rare
It’s part science, part instinct, part passion, and part historic knowledge.
🕯 From the Auction Block to a New Home
One of my favorite stories involves an 1800’s Imperial Glass chandelier originally made for a hotel. It was in rough shape — dusty, dull, and in need of rewiring, and a refurbish — but I could see the potential hiding underneath.
I paid $5.00 for it, took it home, cleaned it carefully, and later sold it to a restorer for over $1,000. That chandelier went from forgotten to fabulous — and probably lights up a room again somewhere today.
Moments like that remind me why I love what I do. Saving beautiful things from ending up in a landfill is part treasure hunt, part preservation.
🧭 To Keep, Sell, or Repurpose?
People often ask how I decide what to do with the glass I find. Here’s my personal rule of thumb:
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Keep it: If it’s rare, a color I love, or just speaks to me — I might hold onto it, but I don't like to have too much, so I might part with a different item to keep a new one.
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Sell it: The valuable or unique pieces go up for sale on eBay, Etsy, or backroadpicking.com (always the best price!).
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Repurpose it: If it’s chipped, cracked, or common (think clear Anchor Hocking punch glasses), it might become something new. Saved for a craft project, or used in a fresh manner
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Rehome it: Lower-end pieces go to a booth at a budget price. Everything deserves a home.
- I rarely donate old glass. I don't care for how thrift stores treat it.
🎄 Creative Ways to Repurpose Old Glass
There’s a world of creativity happening with vintage glass!
I’ve seen Christmas trees, snowmen, and even bird baths built from stacked glassware. It’s not just clever — it’s beautiful.
Each one feels like a little tribute to craftsmanship. Instead of throwing away a chipped candy dish or unmatched candleholder, someone turns it into something that sparkles again.
You don’t have to be a crafter to appreciate it — just someone who values giving old things new life. AND, don't give me the line about ruining old glass, there is far too much of it in the world, so some of the lesser desired pieces get new lives this way.
🌍 It’s About More Than Glass
For me, saving glass is about more than collecting — it’s about preserving stories and protecting the planet.
Every time we reuse or repurpose something, we keep it out of a landfill. We stop another cheaply-made “fast décor” item from flooding the market. And we connect with the past in a meaningful way.
One of my favorite parts of this work is hearing families share stories about heirlooms — Grandma’s candy dish, Dad’s bar glasses, or that vase that sat in the same window for fifty years.
Sometimes the sparkle isn’t just in the glass — it’s in the memories it holds.
🛍 BackRoadPicking: Giving Treasures New Stories
Through BackRoadPicking, I help glass pieces find their next chapter. Some are sold online, some through our booths, and others on consignment for families who just don’t know what to do with their items.
Whether it’s helping downsize an estate or giving a chipped vase new purpose, my goal is simple: rehome forgotten treasures and keep beauty in circulation.
If you love vintage, believe in sustainability, or enjoy a good treasure hunt, you’ll fit right in.
👉 Visit BackRoadPicking.com to shop, find me at the Peddlers Mall in Lebanon, Ohio (Booths 18, and 167), or follow along on YouTube for behind-the-scenes stories about the finds, the flips, and the families.
💬 Before You Toss That Glass…
Next time you find an old bowl, vase, or platter tucked in a box — don’t be too quick to toss it.
It might not be worth a fortune, but it might just be worth saving.
Because every piece of glass has a story — and sometimes, it’s just waiting for someone like you to give it another chance to shine. A planter? A pencil cup? If it's broken, a sun catcher?
These pieces shown are not my creations, here are links to creators, where I could find them:Tall Clear Birdbath
Red HummingBid Feeder