Milk Glass Memories Milk Glass Hobnail was very fashionable in the 50's and 60's, when many of us baby boomers were growing up. I have many fond Milk Glass Memories myself.
Those of us in the "baby boomer" era, probably remember that "white bumpy glass", as I called it, on the family table. Well, that "white bumpy glass", turns out to be the highly collectible milk glass pattern, known as Milk Glass Hobnail, produced by the Fenton Art Gass Company. I remember a large hobnail bowl and candleholders which was ever present on our table. Mom always had some plastic fruit or some such decoration in the bowl.
In the 1950's, Fenton began their production of the Hobnail pattern, in milk glass. Until 1958, the glass had an almost translucent look, having a distinct "fire" when held to the light. Starting in 1958, the formula was changed to a more opaque white, to compete with the products of the rivaling Westmoreland and Imperial Glass Companies. The success of the White Milk Glass Hobnail pattern, was astounding! Many pieces were made, from tiny vases, dinnerware, baskets, comports and epergnes, to mention a few.
The popularity of milk glass has grown since it's beginnings in the 1950's. Today, collector's abound...often competing with each other for hard to find pieces, either online, in bidding wars, or trying to be first at the glass show. While not a collector of this "bumpy white glass" myself, the sight of it still brings back memories of simpler days gone by.
To see some examples of the fantastic glassware , just visit my shop at TIAS, http://christinenagysdepressionglassandmore.com check out the Fenton Hobnail category in my Milk Glass Mania section and my Milk Glass Mania Store onMain Street Mall Online http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/pottery/store.php?ref=2T here you will find an interesting array of this fantastic glass. Spring is upon us...why not purchase a beautiful basket, or lovely vase for those early tulips.
References:
A Pictorial Review: Fenton's Hobnail Milk Glassby Shine and Shirley Griffith, 1984
Fenton Art Glass Patterns 1939-1980 by Margaret and Ken Whitmyer, 1999
The Big Book of Fenton Milk Glass 1940-85 by John Walk, 2nd Edition, 2004
