Mid-Century White Milk Glass Hand-Blown Scalloped Bowl

This is a decorative milk glass bowl, likely dating from the mid-20th century, approximately 1950s-1960s. The piece is crafted from thick, opaque white glass with a high-gloss finish. Its most striking physical characteristic is the deeply scalloped or undulating wide rim, which suggests a hand-blown or hand-finished manufacturing process typical of 'swing' vases or hand-formed glass of that era. The body features vertical ribbing or wide fluting that tapers toward a soft, rounded base. This structural design adds both visual interest and tactile depth to the piece. No maker's marks or signatures are visible in the provided image, but the style is reminiscent of American glass manufacturers such as Fenton, Westmoreland, or Imperial Glass. The condition appears to be excellent with no visible chips, cracks, or significant surface abrasions. The glass maintains a vibrant, clean luster without the dulling souvent associated with dishwasher damage. The item demonstrates high-quality craftsmanship, characterized by even wall thickness and smoothly finished edges along the complex decorative rim. This piece serves as a classic example of Mid-Century Modern or Hollywood Regency interior decor, valued for its organic shape and monochromatic purity.

Based on my visual examination of the Mid-Century white milk glass scalloped bowl, I find it to be a well-preserved example of American decorative glassware from approximately 1950–1965. The high-gloss finish and lack of dishwasher-induced 'etching' suggest careful storage. The undulating, hand-stretched rim is a hallmark of the 'swing' technique, frequently utilized by firms like Fenton and Westmoreland. While the absence of a maker's mark is common for this era—as silver foil labels were often removed—the purity of the white opaque color and the uniformity of the vertical ribbing indicate a professional production standard. Currently, the market for milk glass is stable but saturated. This piece aligns with 'Hollywood Regency' and 'Grandmillennial' trends, maintaining steady demand for functional decor. Comparables for unsigned 8-10 inch bowls with scalloped edges typically sell in the $40 to $70 range at auction or via vintage dealers. The primary value drivers here are the pristine condition and the complexity of the rim. Limitations: A definitive attribution to a specific factory (e.g., Fenton vs. Imperial) cannot be confirmed via imagery alone. A physical inspection is required to check for a 'pontil mark' on the base, which would distinguish hand-blown from mold-pressed techniques, and to weigh the density of the glass to rule out modern reproductions. Provenance documentation or original catalog matching would be necessary to increase the valuation to a collector's premium level.