Toothpick Holders: Victorian Glass & Ceramic Table Accessories
Toothpick holders are small decorative vessels, typically 2 to 3 inches tall, designed to hold wooden toothpicks at the dining table. Produced primarily between 1880 and 1910, they were made in hundreds of patterns by every major American glass company and numerous potteries. Their manageable size, variety, and affordability have made them one of the most popular glass collecting categories for over fifty years.
History & Production
The golden age of toothpick holder production coincided with the height of American pressed glass manufacturing. Companies including Heisey, Northwood, U.S. Glass, Cambridge, and Fenton produced holders in clear, colored, and opalescent glass in patterns matching their full tableware lines. Ceramic holders were made by R.S. Prussia, Royal Bayreuth, and Nippon, among others. Production declined sharply after 1920 as dining etiquette evolved.
Types & Styles
- Pattern Glass: Pressed glass matching popular tableware patterns (Daisy & Button, Moon & Star, etc.)
- Art Glass: Mt. Washington, Burmese, Peachblow, Amberina, and other art glass types
- Opalescent Glass: Northwood, Beaumont, and others in blue, green, white, and cranberry opalescent
- Carnival Glass: Iridescent pressed glass holders by Northwood, Fenton, and Imperial
- Figural: Novelty shapes including animals, hats, boots, and barrels
- Porcelain/Ceramic: Hand-painted, transfer-decorated, or figural pottery examples
Auction Price Ranges
| Item | Type | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Common pattern glass holder | 1890s-1910s | $15 - $50 |
| Colored pattern glass (ruby, green, blue) | 1890s-1900s | $40 - $150 |
| Mt. Washington Burmese holder | 1880s | $300 - $800 |
| Northwood opalescent (blue/green) | 1890s-1900s | $75 - $250 |
| Heisey colored glass | 1900s-1920s | $50 - $200 |
| Carnival glass (rare pattern) | 1910s | $100 - $500 |
| R.S. Prussia porcelain | 1900s-1910s | $75 - $300 |
| Figural silver plate | 1880s-1900s | $40 - $175 |
| Custard glass (Northwood) | 1900s | $60 - $200 |
Condition Factors
- Chips: Even tiny rim chips drastically reduce value on small pieces where damage is prominent
- Color intensity: Deep, vivid colors bring premiums in every glass type
- Pattern clarity: Sharp, well-defined mold impressions indicate early production runs
- Marks: Northwood "N-in-circle," Heisey "H-in-diamond," and other maker marks add value
- Polished bases: Ground or polished pontil marks indicate quality finishing
Collecting Tips
- The National Toothpick Holder Collectors Society publishes research and hosts annual conventions
- Reference "Glass Toothpick Holders" by the National Toothpick Holder Collectors for pattern identification
- Reproductions are widespread, especially in colored glass; study originals carefully before buying
- Focus on a specific maker, color, or glass type to build a cohesive collection
- Art glass holders (Burmese, Peachblow, Amberina) are the most valuable but rarest category
- Many holders were reissued by L.G. Wright and other remakers; learn to distinguish originals from reissues