I was visiting my aunt recently and admired a large pressed glass bowl. It looked like and older one. I asked her if that was a family heirloom or if she bought it somewhere. She said she obtained it at a garage sale for $5. I exclaimed that she got a VERY VERY good price for it. I thought it was worth about $50. She said that she really only wanted to pay $3 because that what it was worth to her. I looked up pressed glass fruit bowls on eBay and was shocked to see not many priced over $5. I can't believe people consider this beautiful, sparkling glass so cheap. If I had one for a lawn sale, I'd be asking about $25 for it. Is the market off on old glassware right now, or is my sense of value over-inflated?

It really depends on the market, and the glass. If the bowl is signed "Heisey" then it has more collectible value vs. something that might be pretty but very mass produced. Beautiful "brilliant cut" cut glass - ca. 1890-1910 has seen a flat market for the past few years. All but the most rarest and perfect pieces are going for prices akin to those gotten at auction in the 1980's.

This cut glass bowl is estimated to fetch $30-50 at an upcoming auction in Detroit.