Glass hens on nests are one of those collectibles that seem simple until you try to identify one.
It is a glass hen sitting on a basket-shaped base. How complicated could it be?
Then you begin comparing combs, eyes, beaks, tail feathers, basket rims, base shapes and sizes—and discover that many different American and European glass companies produced their own versions.
Glass hens seem to be having a moment with vintage collectors. With prices rising for some of the more desirable examples, I thought this would be a good time to begin a practical series on identifying them.
This is the beginning of a small series on my Jade Rooster blog about identifying vintage glass hen-on-nest covered dishes. The natural place to start is with the reference set I already own: Glass Hen on Nest Covered Dishes: Identification & Value Guide, Second Edition by Shirley Smith.
Disclosure: This post contains paid links to eBay. As an eBay Partner, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through these links.
My Starting Point: Shirley Smith’s Two-Volume Reference Set
Shirley Smith’s second-edition guide is divided into two spiral-bound books:
Volume 1: American Manufacturers and Distributors
Volume 2: European Companies
The books were published by Glass Flakes Press, an imprint of the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia.
Together, the two volumes provide an extensive look at glass hen-on-nest covered dishes made by American and European companies. They include photographs, measurements and identifying details that can help collectors compare similar-looking hens.
The spiral binding is especially practical. The books lie flat while I compare a glass hen with the examples shown on the pages.
The title page describes the work as:
“A thoughtful inquiry into the nature of the beast.”
That seems appropriate. Once you begin looking closely at these hens, identifying one can become quite an investigation.
Who Are These Books For?
I think this two-volume set is especially useful for serious collectors, antique dealers and shop owners who regularly need to research glass hen-on-nest dishes. The books are comprehensive, but they can also be expensive. I paid about $50 for my set, so I would not suggest that the average buyer needs to purchase them just to identify one or two hens.
Casual collectors, thrifters and vintage shoppers can simply follow along with this series. I will highlight some of the makers, variations and identification details you are most likely to encounter.
The books cover far more makers and variations than I could reasonably include in a short blog series.
Looking for the books?
Browse current eBay listings for Shirley Smith’s Glass Hen on Nest Covered Dishes.
Paid eBay link. Availability, edition and condition will vary by seller.
What Makes a Glass Hen Identifiable?
Color alone is rarely enough to identify the maker of a glass hen.
The details that may help include:
- The shape and size of the comb
- The shape of the beak and head
- Whether the eyes are molded, painted or applied
- The arrangement of the tail feathers
- The texture of the body feathers
- The design around the rim of the nest
- The shape and depth of the base
- The overall measurements
- Any molded marks, labels or signatures
Even the way the hen fits onto the base can be important.
Different manufacturers sometimes produced hens that appear very similar at first glance. Some molds also changed over time, and later glassmakers occasionally produced pieces inspired by older designs.
A good reference book allows you to compare the entire form rather than relying on one feature—or on another seller’s identification.
That last point matters. An incorrect attribution can be repeated from one online listing to another until it begins to look like established fact.
Check That the Hen and Nest Belong Together
A hen-on-nest covered dish consists of two separate pieces, which creates another identification challenge.
The lid and base may not always have started life together.
A replacement lid can sometimes fit reasonably well on a similar base made by another company. Colors can also appear to match in photographs while looking noticeably different in person.
When examining a hen-on-nest dish, I look at:
- How securely the hen sits on the base
- Whether the size and shape seem properly proportioned
- Whether the glass color matches in natural light
- Whether the texture and quality of the glass are consistent
- Whether the lid and base correspond with documented examples
A mismatched set may still be decorative and desirable, but it should not be identified or priced as a complete original example without further research.
Identification Guide First, Price Guide Second
Although Shirley Smith’s books include values, I consider them identification guides first.
The current market for vintage glass can change. Color, condition, size, rarity and collector demand can all affect what a particular hen sells for today.
An older price guide can tell us what collectors valued when the book was published, but it may not reflect what buyers are currently paying.
For present-day pricing, I also check recent sold listings and auction results. The books are most useful for helping determine exactly what the piece is before researching its current value.
Beginning with Indiana Glass
The next article in this series will focus on Indiana Glass hens on nests.
Indiana hens are among the most recognizable and frequently encountered examples. They were produced in a variety of colors, and they are often the first hens new collectors discover.
They are also frequently misidentified.
In the Indiana Glass article, I plan to look more closely at the features that distinguish an Indiana hen, the variations collectors may encounter and the details that are most helpful to photograph when researching one.
After Indiana Glass, I plan to look at Mosser Glass.
Mosser is especially interesting because the company continues to make traditional glassware. Its hens offer a helpful reminder that an old-fashioned appearance does not automatically mean a piece is vintage or antique.
Other possible articles in this series may include:
- How to inspect a glass hen for chips and damage
- How to spot a mismatched hen and nest
- Commonly confused hen-on-nest makers
- Unusual colors and glass treatments
- Small hens, chicks and other variations
- How to photograph a hen for identification
- Reference books and resources for glass collectors
This will not be an attempt to document every glass hen ever made. Shirley Smith already devoted two volumes to that task.
Instead, I want this to be a small, practical series focused on the makers and identification questions that collectors, thrifters and vintage sellers are most likely to encounter.
Continue Your Own Hen Hunt
Part of the fun of collecting hen-on-nest dishes is discovering just how many variations exist.
They can be found in different sizes, colors and types of glass. Pieces that initially appear nearly identical may have been made by completely different companies—or decades apart.
Browse vintage glass hen-on-nest covered dishes currently available on eBay.
Paid eBay link. Please review each seller’s photographs, description and condition information carefully.
I hope this series helps me become better at recognizing these charming covered dishes while helping other glass lovers avoid a few identification mistakes of their own.
Next, take a closer look at the features that can help you identify an Indiana Glass hen on nest.
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