If you’re looking to replicate the charm of Victorian homes, quite often it can be all about the finishing touches you add to your property. An easy way to spend a small amount on making a big difference to the Victorian vibe in your house is to hunt for antique glass that harks back to the era.

From cake stands and fruit bowls to cream jugs and drinking glasses, pressed glass antiques from the Victorian era can be picked up in charity shops and car boot sales for pennies and can be used in a whole host of ways to bring some period charm to your home.

The history of pressed glass: making products cheap and accessible

Before the 1820s, glass was incredibly expensive and was only used by the upper classes as glass vessels had to be blown individually. When pressed glass – otherwise known as pattern glass – was developed, items could be mass-produced and were far more affordable. 

Items are made by pressing molten glass into a mould using a plunger. The method was patented by American inventor John P. Bakewell in 1825 to make knobs for furniture.

The technique was developed in the United States from the 1820s and in Britain and other parts of Europe from the 1830s. By the mid-19th century, most inexpensive mass-produced glassware was pressed and this form of antique glass is now highly desirable. 

The development also led to a boom in Victorian greenhouses and orangeries.

The lustre of antique glass was highly cherished

Lustrous cut glass was hugely popular during the Victorian era. Improvements in technology and industry combined with the skillful artistry of craftsmen to create some of the most beautiful and collectable glass ever made.

Decorative pieces were incredibly ornate. There were engraved decanters, whisky noggins, drinking glasses, candlesticks, cake stands, vases, mirrors, scent bottles and much more.

While pressed glass doesn’t have the same sparkle as cut glass, it is far more “usable” on an everyday basis, and items can be used for a multitude of purposes.

Stained glass adds Victorian magic to any room

If you are lucky, your Victorian home may boast original Victorian stained glass windows or doors from the period. If not, you can inject some stained glass style with terrariums or stained glass panels hung at the windows.

Stained glass panels from the era can be bought for great prices at auctions, auction websites and antique dealers – you may even find desirable antique glassware at car boot sales, or you could commission the creation of your own stained glass panel by a craftsman. Placed in a bedroom window, they can throw colourful light through the room and add a touch of Victorian magic.

Protecting your Victorian home with insurance

Your Victorian home holds a lot of history and it has a great future too, so it makes sense to protect it with the best possible insurance. That’s why you should go to the Victorian home insurance experts at Adrian Flux. Call 0800 369 8590 or book a callback at a time that suits you for a swift hassle-free quote.  Our home insurance customers saved an average of 31% in 2021 when taking out a policy with us. See how much you could save by giving us a call.