Collecting Akro Agate

Several years ago, I acquired a large collection of Akro Agate that I then auctioned on eBay.  That is the source of these photos, as well as the source of my impressions on value and collectibility.  Like they say, YMMV (your mileage may vary).

That said --

Rarer colors are always going to be worth more than the more common colors, and rarer designs more valuable than the commoner designs.  (I know - DUH!)

I think the rarest color for Akro Agate pieces is the black amethyst.  This is a glass that looks black until you hold it up to a strong light, where you can see the purple.

akro agate black amethyst thumb pot


Here is a piece of Akro Agate's black amethyst.  This is the rib topped flower pot.  These little guys are known as 'thumb pots'. 

Another quite rare color is the dark green.  The cobalt blue is more common, but still quite collectible because it's so darn pretty.





Here's an example of the dark green, in the tall graduated darts vase.  These vases come with both the scalloped rim shown here, and a smooth rim.
dark green graduated darts vase

tab handled bowl in cobalt

The tab handled bowl is one of the rarer pieces, measuring 9 inches from handle to handle.  Luscious cobalt!

One of the most popular of the slag colors is the dark red know as oxblood.   Here is an oxblood version of the five piece smokers set, with four ashtrays and a cigarette jar.

Even more popular (not pictured) is oxblood with a background of translucent yellow, a combination known as 'lemonade and oxblood'.
smoker's set in oxblood

orloff's attar of petals


For pieces that were made for manufacturers to market their products in, value is added when the original label is intact.

This apothecary jar originally held Orloff's Attar of Petals.


Here is the Akro Agate American Maid tea set.   These sets commonly came with mixed colors like this.  Having the original box would significantly increase the value.
American Maid Tea Set

There are some condition problems that are fairly common with Akro Agate.  The ones I've noticed the most are bubbles and sometimes small stress marks around the rim of the larger pieces.  From my experience, these conditions do not seem to detract from the value of the piece; in an auction environment, pieces with these issues don't sell for significantly less than those without them.  Of course, post-factory damage, chipping and cracking, will lower a piece's value significantly. 

The holy grail for Akro Agate collectors (not pictured, since I've never seen one personally) is the 8-pointed star ashtray.  If you see one of these in the five dollar bin at your local flea market, buy it!  Even a chipped one sells for several hundred dollars in the right market.

If this page has whetted your appetite for more Akro Agate pictures, you'll find lots more here:

Bruce and Bonnie's Unofficial Akro Agate Collector's Page

Back to page 1 - Akro Agate history




Copyright 2005 by Joyce Lee Harmon