Vintage view: Victorian glass

CRANBERRY, ruby or gold ruby glass will not be ignored. You can set a single piece on a mantle, or crowd it at the back of a glazed cabinet.

With its moist, fruity colour, it jumps out with a gem-hard confidence.

As late as the 1980s, antique dealers were sniffy about commonplace Victoriana, and that fanciful glint of late 19th century red glass would likely be found in the local jumble sale. Today, while still not the sexiest antique, cranberry glass holds a sentimental fascination for collectors.