How to identify Libbey glassware?
Libbey glassware began in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1818, first as the New England Glass Company and then as the Libbey Glass Company after the company moved to Toledo, Ohio. Among its glassware products are tableware, drinkware, and stemware, as well as glass drinking bottles, automotive glass, and light bulbs.
Because of its long history of manufacturing, you can quickly identify Libbey glassware through its trademark design motifs.
The main identifying mark of Libbey glassware is the ‘cursive L’. First introduced in 1924, the cursive L features many of their tableware pieces, including drinkware and stemware for home and commercial use.
This trademark is often embossed or engraved on the bottom of Libbey glasses and may resemble a cursive letter ‘Q’ or a fancifully looped numeral ‘2’. Depending on the age of the glassware, the cursive L may or may not be encircled once, twice, or thrice. This is because the trademark has undergone many design changes over the years.
What makes Libbey glass special?
The main selling point of Libbey glassware is that they’re built to last – considering that much of their glassware from the 19th century is still in use today, they make this claim confidently.
Libbey glassware has maintained a long tradition of consistent quality for its tableware lines. The diversity of their manufactured glass products includes complete tabletop sets, which are ideal for food service functions like buffets and catering, to cookware and bakeware for commercial and home kitchens.
The Libbey brand is also popular among glassware collectors because of its whimsical 18th and 19th-century designs and enduring glass clarity. There’s a cottage market for replicas of vintage Libbey glassware, such as the original turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau drinking glasses that feature artwork from famous contemporary artists like Alphonse Mucha.
Replicas were so popular among collectors and food service businesses that, in 2021, the Libbey brand reissued their designs from the Modern Americana and Art Deco eras.
However, it’s essential to purchase only authentic Libbey glassware for your food service business. Not only are they much safer and more durable to use, but their authenticity may also help your business’s reputation, mainly if your customers are familiar with the brand’s quality.
Reward Hospitality supplies only authentic Libbey glassware, such as the Hobstar, Lexington, and Winchester crystalware. Because of their design and quality, Libbey glassware remains in demand; please leave us a message if you’re interested in pre-ordering or reserving incoming glassware wholesale stock.
What is an indicator that Libbey glass is vintage?
The Libbey glass brand manufactured a wide array of glassware at the turn of the century, and there are several vintage Libbey glassware designs to choose from if you’re looking for vintage. The more popular glassware are Collins glasses, stem glasses, tumblers, and whiskey glasses.
To check if your Libbey glass is vintage, look for the trademark at the bottom of the glass. If the cursive L is encircled, then it’s very likely that it’s a vintage. The number of circles especially indicates specific trademark periods.
The cursive L with double circles was trademarked in 1924 and replaced by the three-circle trademark in 1937. Interestingly, the single-circle version of the trademark was the last iteration to feature the encircled cursive L. This trademark version was created in 1955 and would be used until recently, as the newer Libbey glassware models feature the cursive L without any circles.
Another tell-tale sign of vintage Libbey glassware is the signature motifs, such as commemorative holiday designs in gold, frosted glass with depictions of unique scenery, animal and carousel patterns, and an abundance of wheat stalks.
Explore Reward Hospitality’s listings for vintage-style Libbey glassware. For food service business purchases, Reward Hospitality offers consolidated shipping for on-hand stocks and order dispatch within 24–48 hours from the date of purchase.
Authentic glassware from Reward Hospitality
Reward Hospitality is the leading supplier of hospitality supplies and catering equipment in Australia and the Asia Pacific. Part of our service commitment is to provide quality service and products and ensure the authenticity of the brands we feature.
From the Rational combi oven to Robot Coupe stick blenders, to bar tools and Zuma plates, Reward Hospitality takes great care in sourcing our products, tools, and equipment from official manufacturers and distributors.
Our dedicated employees include industry experts available for consultations, both in our physical stores and via online enquiry. If you’re looking for industry solutions, such as venue design and product or service planning, Reward Hospitality is more than happy to help.
When it comes to authenticity, the finer details always matter – and we at Reward Hospitality pay close attention to the details of every order we receive.
Experience authentic quality service from a supplier that cares. Get your Libbey glassware from us today.