Milk Glass / Vitro-Porcelain Glass Identification Guide + Gallery

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Milk glass is a term that was originally used to describe opaque white glassware. It has since become used to include several colours of opaque and translucent glass, including white, blue, green, pink, black, yellow and brown. The origins of milk glass begin in Venice in the 16th Century, when it was then known as "opal" glass. Milk glass is also known as vitro-porcelain glass, a term first used by Sowerby for their range of pressed milk glass, as the opaque glass looks like porcelain. This section of our encyclopaedia focuses on pressed milk glass produced during the Victorian era and later, by British manufacturers Sowerby, Davidson and Greener, French makers including Vallerysthal and Portieux, and USA companies such as Westmoreland and Fenton.

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Sowerby Vitro-Porcelain / Milk Glass

Sowerby #1102 Victorian Blue Milk / Vitro-Porcelain Glass Bowl - Marked

A Victorian blue British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass basket shaped bowl. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1102.

Sowerby #1154½ Antique Victorian Black Milk Glass Spill Vase - Marked

A Victorian black British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass spill vase. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1154½.

Sowerby #1157 Victorian Blue Milk / Vitro-Porcelain Glass Basket Bowl

A Victorian blue British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass basket shaped bowl. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1157, marked.

Sowerby #1159 Victorian Blue Milk / Vitro-Porcelain Glass Bowl - Marked

A Victorian blue British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass trough bowl. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1159, marked.

Sowerby #1160 Victorian Black Milk / Vitro-Porcelain Glass Spill Vase

A Victorian black British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass spill vase. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1160, marked.

Sowerby Victorian Black Milk Glass Vitro-Porcelain Spill Vase

A Victorian black British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass spill vase. Most likely made by Sowerby, very similar to pattern number 1160.

Sowerby #1173 Victorian Blue Milk / Vitro-Porcelain Glass Spill Vase - Marked

A Victorian blue British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass basket shaped spill vase. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1173, marked.

Sowerby #1192½ Victorian Blue Milk Glass Antique Basket Bowl

A Victorian blue British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass basket shaped bowl. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1192½, marked.

Sowerby #1219 Victorian Blue Milk / Vitro-Porcelain Glass Posy Trough - Marked

A Victorian blue British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass bowl / trough. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1219, marked.

Sowerby #1254.5 Victorian White Milk Glass Bowl - Marked

A Victorian white British pressed milk / vitro-porcelain glass bowl. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1254½, marked.

Sowerby #1281 Victorian Queen's Ivory Milk Glass Vase - Marked

A Victorian ivory uranium British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass vase. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1281, marked.

Sowerby #1293½ Victorian White Milk Glass Posy Trough - Marked

A Victorian white British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass bowl / trough. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1293½, marked.

Sowerby #1325 Victorian Queen's Ivory Milk Glass Bowl - Marked

A Victorian ivory uranium British pressed milk / vitro-porcelain glass basket bowl. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1325, marked.

Sowerby #1346 Victorian Queen's Ivory Milk Glass Creamer - Marked

A Victorian ivory uranium British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass creamer. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1346, marked.

Sowerby #1350 Victorian Queen's Ivory Milk Glass Bowl - Marked

A Victorian ivory uranium British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass bowl. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1350, marked.

Sowerby #1350 Victorian Queen's Ivory Milk Glass Basket - Marked

A Victorian ivory uranium British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass basket shaped bowl. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1350, marked.

Sowerby #1350 Victorian Queen's Ivory Milk Glass Creamer - Marked

A Victorian ivory uranium British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass creamer. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1350, marked.

Sowerby #1403½ Victorian White Milk Glass Basket Bowl - Marked

A Victorian white British pressed milk / vitro-porcelain glass basket shaped bowl. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1403½, marked.

Sowerby #1430 Victorian Blue Milk Glass Creamer/Jug - Marked

A Victorian blue British pressed vitro-porcelain / milk glass creamer. Made by Sowerby, pattern number 1430, marked.

Davidson Vitro-Porcelain / Milk Glass

Antique Davidson 1890's Victorian Black Milk Glass Vase

A Victorian black British pressed milk glass spill vase. Made by Davidson.

Antique Davidson 1890's Victorian Black Milk Glass Bowl

A Victorian black British pressed milk glass bowl. Made by Davidson.

Other Vitro-Porcelain / Milk Glass

Antique 1890's Victorian Blue Milk Glass Basket Bowl

A Victorian blue pressed milk glass basket shaped bowl. Manufacturer unknown.

Antique 1890's Victorian Blue Milk Glass Bowl

A Victorian blue pressed milk glass basket shaped bowl. Manufacturer unknown.

Antique 1890's Victorian Blue Milk Glass Basket Bowl

A Victorian blue pressed milk glass basket shaped bowl. Manufacturer unknown.

Antique 1890's Victorian Blue Milk Glass Basket Bowl

A Victorian blue pressed milk glass basket shaped bowl. Manufacturer unknown.

Antique 1890's Victorian White Milk Glass Basket Bowl

A Victorian white pressed milk glass basket shaped bowl. Manufacturer unknown.

Antique Victorian Cream Milk Glass Vitro-Porcelain Basket Bowl

A Victorian pale creamy brown pressed milk glass basket shaped bowl. Manufacturer unknown.

Vallérysthal Victorian Green Milk Glass Basket Bowl - Marked

A Victorian French green pressed milk glass basket shaped bowl. Made by Vallérysthal, marked.

Antique 1890's Victorian Blue Milk Glass Bowl

A Victorian blue pressed milk glass bowl. Manufacturer unknown.

Antique 1890's Victorian Black Milk Glass Spill Vase

A Victorian black pressed milk glass spill vase. Manufacturer unknown.

Antique 1890's Victorian Black Milk Glass Spill Vase

A Victorian black pressed milk glass spill vase. Manufacturer unknown.

Victorian Black Milk Glass Vitro-Porcelain Vintage Spill Vase

A Victorian black pressed milk glass spill vase. Manufacturer unknown.

Antique 1890's Victorian Black Milk Glass Spill Vase

A Victorian black pressed milk glass spill vase. Manufacturer unknown.

Victorian Black Milk Glass Vitro-Porcelain 'Daisy' Spill Vase

A Victorian black pressed milk glass spill vase with daisy pattern. Manufacturer unknown.

Antique 1890's Victorian Blue Milk Glass Footed Bowl

A blue pressed milk glass footed bowl. Manufacturer unknown.

Blue Milk Glass Cherub Candlestick Holder

A blue pressed milk glass cherum candlestick. Manufacturer unknown.

Schmid Verreries French Victorian Blue Milk Glass Mustard Pot

A French blue milk glass mustard pot (missing lid). Made by Schmid Verreries, pattern number 2724. Shown in their catalogue from approx 1930. Marked with upside down horse shoe and number 122.

French Victorian Vintage Blue Milk Glass 'Greek Key' Vase

A blue milk glass vase with greek key and leaves pattern. Made in France, circa 1900.

Portieux/Vallérysthal Victorian Blue Milk Glass Vase

A blue milk glass vase with crosses and candles pattern. Made in France, circa 1900.

Portieux/Vallérysthal Victorian Blue Milk Glass Vase

A blue milk glass vase with floral pattern. Made in France, circa 1900.

Portieux/Vallérysthal Victorian Blue Milk Glass Vase

A blue milk glass vase with diamonds pattern. Made in France, circa 1900.

Portieux / Vallérysthal Victorian Antique Blue Milk Glass Vase

A blue milk glass vase with berry pattern. Made in France, circa 1900.

Portieux/Vallérysthal Victorian Blue Milk Glass Vase

A blue milk glass vase with floral pattern. Made in France, circa 1900.

Portieux/Vallérysthal Victorian Blue Milk Glass Vase

A blue milk glass vase with leaf pattern. Made in France, circa 1900.

Sars-Poteries Victorian Blue Milk Glass 'Corn' Vase

A French blue milk glass vase with 'corn' pattern. Made by Sars-Poteries, pattern number 2222. Shown in their 1888 catalogue.

Portieux / Vallérysthal Victorian Vintage Blue Milk Glass Vase

A blue milk glass vase with frame pattern. Made in France, circa 1900.

French Victorian Vintage Blue Milk Glass 'Snake' Vase

A blue milk glass vase with snake pattern. Made in France, circa 1900.

Edward Moore Victorian Blue Milk Glass Griffins Vase

A Victorian British blue pressed milk glass "Griffins" vase. Made by Edward Moore & Co.

Edward Moore Pair of Victorian White Milk Glass Griffins Vases

A pair of Victorian British white pressed milk glass "Griffins" vases. Made by Edward Moore & Co.

Portieux / Vallérysthal Victorian Blue Milk Glass Spill Vase

A blue milk glass spill vase with hand design. Made by French company Portieux, pattern number 7198.

Portieux #3891 French Victorian Pink Milk Glass 'Louis XV' Creamer / Jug

A 'Louis XV' white milk glass creamer jug with pink paint or enamelling. Made by French company Portieux, pattern number 3891.

Victorian Blue Vitro-Porcelain / Milk Glass Antique Basket Bowl

A blue milk glass basket shaped spill vase. Manufacturer unknown.

Victorian Blue Milk Glass Vitro-Porcelain Vintage Basket Bowl

A blue milk glass basket shaped spill vase. Manufacturer unknown.

Victorian Blue Milk Glass Vitro-Porcelain Vintage Bark Vase

A blue milk glass bark textured vase. Manufacturer unknown.

Victorian Black Milk Glass Vitro-Porcelain Creamer / Jug

A black milk glass creamer jug with roses, thistles and crown pattern. Manufacturer unknown.

French Victorian Vintage Blue Milk Glass 'Hen' Egg Cup

A blue milk glass egg cup with hen design. Most likely made in France, factory unknown.

Antique 1890's Victorian Blue Milk Glass Creamer - Silenus

A Victorian blue pressed milk glass creamer jug. Manufacturer unknown.


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Reference Websites

For more information on Milk glass, check out the following resources:

www.opaline.defoire.pagesperso-orange.fr - Superb website about French Milk Glass.
www.victorianpressedglass.com - Large gallery of Sowerby and other Victorian pressed glass, with catalogue scans.