Shot Glass Collecting

Calling the shots

Shot glasses, tiny glass, plastic, or ceramic cups designed to hold a single serving of liquor, can be found nearly everywhere. Whether emblazoned with the logo of a school or professional sports team, or decorated with graphics of a purely ornamental nature, shot glass aficionados look for unique and original pieces to round out their collections.

Although many structurally different items may be called a shot glass, the traditional shot glass consists of single, transparent glass with a thick bottom, thin walls and wide mouth. Designed to hold a beverage that will be consumed in one swift motion, some shot glasses can hold up to four ounces, although the smaller variety is by far the most common. Shapes vary slightly as well, including a shooter, which lacks the traditional shot glass’s wide mouth and the double, which holds a greater volume. Antique stores sometimes erroneously label shot glasses as candlesticks or toothpick holders.

Shot glasses can be used for preparing actual drinks, but most serious collectors prefer to store their prizes in display cases or china cabinets.

Sharp shooters

Collectors look for several broad areas of interest in evaluating the worth of a piece:

Age matters. The issue of dating a particular piece can be difficult, since many old glasses were not labeled with the date of their creation. Experts use the shape, composition and, if applicable, the print on the glass to determine its age. The value of a piece that can be dated easily increases dramatically over ambiguous glasses whose provenance is unknown. For most glasses, establishing the exact age and place of production can prove extremely difficult. Pieces that prominently display a maker’s mark on the bottom or near the lip may in fact be labeled with information pertaining to the print on the glass, rather than the glass itself.

Oddballs rule. Limited printings and vintage materials, such as Depression Era carnival glass, milk glass, and uranium glass, cost more. While commercially printed glasses with sports teams and school mascots appeal to fans, serious collectors look for more rarified materials to give their collections greater depth. Seemingly inconspicuous variations in prints on the glasses, such as older versions of team logos or differences due to outdated printing or etching technologies, can make a very ordinary-looking piece extremely valuable.

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