Glass is supposed to be 100 years old to be an “antique” although you’ll hear depression glass and even glass from the 1950s called “antique”. Glass from before about 1920 would fall in the categories of Early American Pressed Glass, or American Brilliant Period Cut or Carnival glass or utility ware (plain tumblers and the like) and very early examples of elegant glass.
Inexpensive mass production didn’t get going until the 1920s when new machines were invented, and shortly after that glass makers invented the wonderful mold etched technique that gave us depression glass.
Brazen Shield Goblet Antique Glass
This goblet is midway between EAPG and elegant. It’s pressed, rather heavy, reasonable quality although not crystal. The pattern is called Brazen Shield and either Central Glass or Cambridge made it. We got this at an estate sale. It seemed neat, the sort of goblet you say “It has to be something.”
It took me a while to identify it. Every time I cleaned out my boxes of glass and donated the pieces that were head-shakers (as in, you shake your head and say “Why did I get this?”) I always paused at this goblet. It sure is something, an interesting, pleasing design. So it stayed in my box.
Luckily for me I belong to a couple glass groups and one includes EAPG aficionados that were immediately able to help me. They gave the pattern name, possible makers and even the date, around 1904. That makes it a real antique!