Forget Pyrex And CorningWare: This Vintage Glassware Brand Is Worth Finding At Thrift Stores

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American brands that are still thriving after more than 200 years in business are clearly doing something right. Libbey Inc. has achieved this milestone, and the brand is one you should definitely know and consider when secondhand shopping for glassware. Libbey's high standards endure, and its quality glasses deserve a place on your thrifting wishlist. "Since 1818, it's been our mission to provide the finest tableware for the makers of drinks, the makers of meals and the makers of memories," reads the Libbey website. 

Vintage glassware is one of the best kitchen items to look for while thrifting, and Libbey products are a prime choice. Pyrex and CorningWare have attracted similar demand on the secondhand market, but Pyrex pieces are mostly resigned to cookware and bakeware, and rare Libbey glass can command even higher prices than CorningWare's pricey vintage treasures. Some classy (and potentially valuable) Libbey options to seek out are glass sets in gold or silver leaf, Depression-era cocktail glasses, or a crystal punch bowl from the brand's American Brilliant Period.

While pieces from the Brilliant era can fetch figures in the low thousands, another gem to watch for is Libbey's 1939 Kentucky Derby glass, which has sold for $40,000 in the past. The brand still makes the Kentucky Bourbon Trail's official tasting glasses (considered some of the best whiskey glasses). Could anything elevate your Derby Day mint julep more?

The organization that became Libbey Glass was founded in 1818 in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, as The New England Glass Company. In the decades that followed, the company honed its focus on intricate engraved designs and interesting colors. After relocating to Toledo, Ohio, in 1888 and adopting the Libbey name a few years later, the brand's access to natural resources and transport lines helped make it a leader in the glassware industry.

The long lifespan of its glass is well-established and often discussed in fan groups. A Reddit user endorsing the durability of a classic Libbey Gibraltar tumbler wrote, "You drop them and your floor tile breaks instead." A fellow Redditor added, "I grew up using these and they are the standard which I hold all other glasses to. My mom still has them after 40+ years of use."

Social media enthusiasm for thrifting the brand's glassware is contagious. Secondhand shoppers often share photos and comments about their retro Libbey finds, such as moon-and-star-printed stemware and a set of glasses with a '70s-era mushroom pattern. These unique glass pieces are a solid investment for your home, whether you use the glassware for its intended purpose or choose to do something more creative. Repurpose a glass decanter as a storage vessel for dry ingredients, or use a cylindrical vase to hold kitchen utensils.