5 Tips for the New Glass Collector

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Releaf Media
Bobby Nuggz 9\17\17

  1. Don’t touch the glass if you haven’t been given permission

We know the excitement and anticipation is sometimes hard to control, or get a grip on when there’s so much to do and look at, with so little time. Patience is a virtue. There have been instances where I’ve seen too many people crowding booths and someone accidently knocked over an expensive piece and broke it. I’ve also been there and chased after thieves down the street who had sticky fingers when artist vendors weren’t paying attention. Keep your hands to yourselves my friends, or just keep your hand on your wallet. Many of us are here for one common goal, and no one is really more special than the next person. If you do have permission to handle expensive pieces it’s highly suggested to invest in buying yourself a jewelers glove off of Amazon or following websites so you don’t smudge the glass and leave fingerprints.

  1. Support local artists in your community

Lately I see my local glass enthusiasts diverting more to supporting big name artists, who’s pieces can reach the price of a solid working car. That’s all fine and dandy, but don’t you go forgetting where your roots are. Local artists can sometimes be starving artists. Mix it up once in a while, man. You have to remember and try to keep in mind that when you support artists who are local you are benefiting the “mom and pop” circles who also need the financial benefit. Social media has thousands of new artists approaching the threshold of this billion dollar industry, and like the girl with pimples and braces in high school, who is now a paid fashion model, it’s ok to see value in goods that maybe not everyone else is seeing. That’s original, authentic and goes against the gain in a culture where everyone is stuck in between those grains.

  1. Take proper safety and storage precautions

If you’re going to spend your hard earned cash on glass that can easily break, you need to do your best to protect it. Most people start off with a glass pipe in a fabric case that was sewn to zip shut, that worked well in 2005 but today if you spend big dollars on a piece of glass it’s imperative to keep it safe. Pelican type cases are a good option, and an affordable one at that. They’re durable and lock tight, as well their customizable padding inside can seatbelt your glass in place with a nice and snug fit. Pelicans range in sizes, you can find small ones for miniature pieces, or you can purchase large ones to fit your entire collection. Displaying your collection is also another viable option for anyone who has the space. A wooden glass hutch can easily be found on craigslist or local antique stores, you can customize them with lights and line them with pads to keep the glass off or the wood. This can cost you a pretty penny, but really what’s the point of spending high dollar savings on glass you’re not going to display, unless it’s that true hidden gem, which brings me to my next case. A real safe can be the only option if your collection is reaching undisclosed amounts of value. Buying a safe and bolting it to the floor is a smart move for the long term. After all, some of these items may become family heirlooms.

  1. Travel to local glass shows and national events to put yourself in the heart of the culture.

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of attending numerous glass shows throughout the country and it’s always a learning experience. I see some people being less than pleasant, they mislead on purpose, try to pay people to cut lines or have people wait in lines for them, no honor or value in the system that we all should abide by. Then there are those who take this seriously and it’s their complete livelihood, you see them at every cup, and glass show across the country and they live off of cold pizza in their car after a long night of sleeping in the front seat, just to wake up again the next morning to do it all over again. These are the types of people to take notes from. They’ve been doing this for years and more than likely own their own businesses and wholesale from all over the place. No, I’m not saying befriend them just for that reason, but you can pay attention to your surroundings and take a note out of the pages of the good ones to create good habits and relationships for yourself so you can make sure to prosper on every level as a collector and a respected one.

  1. If you can, invest in your future.

Collecting glass is an investment within itself. Just like buying a house, or investing in stocks, glass value always seems to go up with the popularity of each artist and mostly with the passing of time in between individual pieces of glass, some are considered to be more historical than others. Always changing and elevating, new artists are gaining recognition on international levels every day. From Japan to California, you can find all artists and styles to support. Whether it’s functional or non-functional, there’s a market for just about everything that isn’t about to go away anytime soon. We are prospering from a glass renaissance; our artists have built the foundation of a brand new industry that is going to ever prosper for many years to come. Who knows, maybe when you’re older and you start to break out some of this timeless art, you’ll be able to gain from your investment!

 

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