I’ve always been befuddled with glass collectors quest for perfection. I once was offered a piece of Mr. Carder’s millefiori. I was told I should invest in such a rare piece–price $15,000. I balked at the price and that was the end of that. However, some years later I came across a millefiori bowl for a rather nominal price. That was because it was broken into several pieces and capably reglued. However, a close look does reveal the glue lines. However, it sits in my cabinet on high. Now that I have this piece I realize how wonderful Mr. Carder’s millefiori pieces are. Just wondrous. Quite unlike the so many millefiori items on the market as are so often seen in paper weights. I must say it is one of my favorite pieces. I view it every day and get enormous pleasure seeing it and owning it. I wonder to myself how foolish it is that collectors won’t touch it because of the damage and miss out on the daily beauty of the piece I continually enjoy and appreciate it. The pleasure is enhanced to have such a rarity at such a nominal price.

Having said that as an introduction to the dialogue we’ve been having on heat checks and how that affects value is an item from David Goldstein of Naples, Florida.
Many years ago I was talking with Paul Gardner on Tom Dimitroff’s porch after a Friends of Carder dinner, and asked him what he thought of buying damaged pieces or, as a collector friend used to say, pieces that require apologies. Paul’s response was direct and to the point- he asked if I would buy the Portland Vase, (the most famous piece of English Cameo Glass) which was broken and restored and now resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum. He went on to say that if the damaged piece was something common, it should be avoided; but if it was something rare or unusual, it should be purchased if the price is right.

Then some more heat check discussion from Beth Shaut of the Carder Steuben Shop of Corning, NY
A heat check is an internal crack in the inner layer of the glass which occurs at times when handles or decoration added to a piece is a different temperature. It cannot be felt on the internal or external surfaces. Heat checks also happen in some of the treatments like Silverina as the airtraps would heat differently than the glass itself. This will affect a piece in today’s market value but did not when originally sold. We have gotten pieces in the shop which came from home that were purchased and use by them.

Do you have questions you’d like answered such as the one on heat checks and resulting values? We’re happy to publish those. For such questions we don’t put forth your name, so no one has to feel embarrassed by asking a question. However, such questions are often on the minds of others. So, ask away by just hitting the reply button.