Little bumps, big confusion.
Turn over a piece of milky-dotted hobnail glass at a yard sale and the first name most people say is Fenton. Sometimes they're right. But plenty of white-on-clear hobnail was made by Anchor Hocking in the 1940s, in a pattern called Moonstone. Here's how to tell the two apart.
Our 1940s Anchor Hocking Moonstone powder box is in the shop now for $29, and it's the only one we have.
See the powder box →
What is hobnail glass?
Hobnail glass is covered in rows of little raised bumps, named after the round-headed nails once hammered into boot soles. Opalescent hobnail adds a milky white glow to the bumps and edges, so the pattern seems to light up against clear or colored glass. It was a favorite from the late 1930s on, and many companies made it.
Fenton opalescent hobnail
Fenton, of Williamstown, West Virginia, began its opalescent hobnail line around 1939 and kept making hobnail in many forms for decades. Fenton's opalescent glass is made with a special mix that turns milky where the hot glass is reheated, so the white usually blooms softly from the tips of the hobs and the rims, fading into the glass around it.
- Colors: French opalescent (white on clear), plus blue, cranberry, topaz, green and others. If it's colored opalescent hobnail, Fenton is a good first guess.
- Shapes: vases, baskets, cruets, lamps, perfume bottles, puff boxes, candy dishes and much more.
- Marks: Fenton began molding its oval logo into much of its glass in 1970. A piece without the logo can still be Fenton, made before then.
Anchor Hocking Moonstone
Anchor Hocking made Moonstone for only a few years, roughly 1941 to 1946. It came in just one look: clear glass with crisp, milky white hobs and a white opalescent rim. The hobs tend to be round and evenly spaced, and the clear glass between them stays clear.
- Colors: white opalescent on clear only.
- Shapes: cups and saucers, plates, sherbets, goblets, creamers and sugars, bonbon and heart-shaped dishes, relish dishes, a cigarette box, vases and a covered powder or puff box.
- Marks: none. Moonstone was never marked, so you identify it by its look and shape.
Quick ways to tell them apart
- Is it colored? Blue, cranberry or topaz opalescent hobnail is not Moonstone.
- Look between the hobs. Clear glass with crisp white dots points to Moonstone. A soft, cloudy glow spreading into the glass points to Fenton.
- Check the shape. Compare it to the list of Moonstone shapes. Lamps, cruets and baskets are almost always Fenton.
- Look for the logo. An oval Fenton mark settles it, but only for pieces made from 1970 on.
- Check the base. Many Moonstone pieces, like our powder box, have a clear pressed starburst on the bottom.
These are clues, not guarantees. Other companies made hobnail too, including Duncan & Miller and Imperial, and hobnail milk glass is a whole other family. When in doubt, compare your piece with a good reference book or photos of known pieces.
See it in person: opalescent hobnail in the shop
Each one is a single piece, so when it's gone, it's gone.
Caring for opalescent glass
- Wash by hand in lukewarm water with mild soap. Never use the dishwasher, which can cloud the glass.
- Avoid sudden temperature changes, like hot water on cold glass.
- Dry the hobs with a soft cloth so water spots don't settle in around them.
For more, see our guide to cleaning and caring for vintage finds.
Keep browsing:
Collectable glass →Trinkets & oddities →
Keep reading: What Is Milk Glass? · Pressed Glass vs. Cut Crystal · What Is Carnival Glass?
Did someone in your family have a hobnail candy dish or powder box on the vanity? Do you know if it was Fenton or Moonstone? Tell us about it.