Identification of Westmoreland Milk Glass

Early Production

• Westmoreland Glass made clear pressed glass or pattern glass for several years after production began. Westmoreland named early patterns with numbered lines, such as the 1776 Colonial line and the 1921 Lotus line. It also made sugar and creamer sets, mustard jars, marmalades and reamers, but very little in milk glass. Westmoreland milk glass production in the heavy popular patterns was later, with Old Quilt beginning after the turn of the 20th century. English Hobnail began in the 1920s, Betty and Bill Newbound report in "Collectors' Encyclopedia of Milk Glass." Paneled Grape, the most popular of the Westmoreland milk glass patterns, began about 1940.

Marks

• The Keystone W is the only mark found on Westmoreland milk glass made before 1950. This mark looks like a shield with the "W" inside. After 1950, Westmoreland marked glass with a "G" superimposed over a "W." Westmoreland placed its WG mark in the mold in the center on the bottom or in the center of the bowl of some candy dishes or bowls. It may be on the inside center of a lid. Westmoreland used "Authentic Milk Glass" stickers only on milk glass items, but another sticker with "Westmoreland Glass" in the outer circle and "Authentic Hand-Made" on the inner circle appeared on Westmoreland from the 1960s to closing. The sticker used before the early 1960s was "Westmoreland Glass" with the keystone in the center and "Hand-Made." Be aware of reproduction marks. "PG" in the keystone is the mark of Plum Glass and Rosso uses the keystone and an "R." A "W" in a circle is not Westmoreland, but may be Westinghouse.

Milk Glass

• Westmoreland made a complete set of dinnerware in the paneled grape pattern and numerous table and dresser pieces in Old Quilt and English Hobnail. In addition to these three popular milk glass patterns, Westmoreland made milk glass covered-animal dishes including roosters and hens, cats, dogs, a camel, lovebirds and a bird on a nest. Opaque white plates with lattice edges and hand-painted decoration may be Westmoreland. Some of the latticework on Westmoreland plates looks like crochet. Westmoreland milk glass is heavy and the forms are chunky.

Decoration

• Much of the Westmoreland milk glass production was hand-painted with flowers or bouquets, often with a center decoration only. Some items have a large decoration on the front and a smaller matching decoration on the back. Quality hand painting similar to Fenton milk glass may confuse the collector. Shape comparison and checking for the in-mold mark can differentiate. Some Westmoreland has a Charlton sticker on the bottom, representing Abels, Wasserberg & Co., one of the best decorating companies of the day. This is Westmoreland glass decorated by Charlton.