Just Cutting Up: How To Tell the Difference Between Cut Glass and Pressed Glass

January 03, 2017 10 Comments

Have you ever picked up a piece of clear glass and wondered if it was cut glass or pressed glass? Maybe you don't know enough about glass to have considered the differences? Cut glass is almost always more valuable than pressed glass and these tips will help you decipher between the two like a pro.

When looking at a piece of glass use your senses. You need to feel the glass to be able to get an idea of its quality. Cut glass will have sharper detail with a more defined pattern, whereas pressed glass will be smoother and worn to the touch. Look for mold marks. Cut glass will not have any mold marks and most pressed pieces do unless they are upper end pieces where someone took the time to remove them.

Feel the overall weight of the glass. This tip goes for shopping for any type of glass. Higher quality glass is heavy and not light weight. Again, you have to get used to feeling the quality of glass to recognize the differences. Cut glass contains lead. The extra mineral content from the lead makes it much heavier. The lead gives cut glass a clearer and more "brilliant" appearance. When holding these pieces up to the light there is a vast difference in clarity and brilliance between cut glass and pressed glass. The facets on cut glass will sparkle in the light. The higher the clarity and the more brilliant the piece, the higher the lead content, and many times the more valuable.

Lastly, when possible, listen to the glass. When you gently thump a piece of cut glass it will ring and sing back to you if it is truly cut glass. Do this very carefully and never in an antique shop unless the owner has agreed to do it for you. Antique glass is very delicate and this can crack or even shatter some pieces.

When possible, always look at a piece of glass you are interested in purchasing with outdoor daylight lighting. I don't know how many times I have decided to buy a piece of glass and it is not until I take it outside or to a shop window to look at it in the daylight that I find a crack or chip that I did not see under indoor lighting. I cannot stress this tip enough.

Using your senses goes a long way in determining the value of many types of glass. With these tips you are well on your way to looking at glass like a professional.

10 Responses

Judy Meadows

November 05, 2023

I’m getting very interested in glass pieces. I learned a lot from what you said. Thanks

Karen

February 14, 2023

Thank you for the wonderful information, I needed that.

Shirley Hallstrom

December 14, 2022

I have an 8’ round cut glass bowl which sings if you ping it. It’s in excellent condition as it was seldom used. How do I find out the value ?

Susan

September 05, 2022

My parents had a lot of these things. Collected them in curio cabinets. But they were into the expensive pieces, and had a friend who was an expert who they mostly bought from. My mom told me the difference between true (expensive) cut glass (more rare) and the cheaper pieces (like in the picture) that everyone (obviously) had, but i don’t remember the term she used. I don’t remember her calling it ‘pressed’ glass. Could there be another term? I have a few of her better, antique pieces, but they were distributed among family after she passed. My favorite is a beautiful antique vase that was my grandmother’s. I have that one.

Beth Garvin

June 18, 2022

So if cut glass contains lead, is it safe to eat/drink from it?

Megan

January 11, 2022

How can I tell, with the naked eye, glass from crystal & regular crystal from lead crystal please?

I always thought lead crystal best?

Viky

September 17, 2021

Thank you very much. I needed to know this. Very helpful

Vicky

April 07, 2021

Very informative. Thank you!! You have made some things very clear that I wasn’t able to find elsewhere.

Jane Porterfield

January 04, 2017

These are good things to know, especially if you’re shopping in antique shops or re-purpose shops. I always thought that glass that contained lead was considered crystal. And I love the “ping” that leaded glass makes. It does indeed, sound like it’s singing.