Art Glass - Louise Luther

X-large hardcover, dust jacket has some wear - see photos

In its delicate beauty and glorious diversity, art glass is one of America’s finest and most popular collectibles. Covering both American art glass and European ware highly sought after by American collectors, this book is an invaluable guide for both novice and experienced collectors. Much more than just a history of the craft or a survey of the market, it is a master class in appraising art glass.

Author Louise Luther is a nationally respected art-glass expert and one of the field’s leading appraisers. The former director of the art glass department at Skinner, the Boston auction and appraisal company, Luther is a regular appraiser on the popular PBS/WGBH television series Antiques Roadshow™.

In Art Glass: How to Compare & Value, Luther shares the secrets of professional appraisers as she shows how to assess style, condition, authenticity, and value. But what makes the book truly unique is its compare-and-contrast format, in which apparently similar pieces are analyzed side-by-side to determine why one is more valuable than the other—or why one is a treasure and the other, not quite. Full-color photos of art glass pieces from each of the more than 50 featured glassmakers appear on facing pages, surrounded by call-outs highlighting each piece’s “value features”—those key design and condition factors that account for the item’s relative market value.

On each spread, introductory text provides invaluable background on the studio and its wares, bulleted points summarize the main features of the art glass pieces being compared, and “Key Facts” sidebars provide additional information on the studio’s history, key artists, special techniques, and maker’s marks. The book opens with a masterful survey of American and European art glass and sections on understanding the art glass market and on the care and display of glass pieces. A comprehensive bibliography and resource list are also included in this indispensable guide to appraising, collecting, and enjoying this exquisite art form.