Glass cabinet knobs were once extremely popular. Using a technique perfected in the early 19th century, millions of glass knobs found their way into homes beginning in the 1920s and remained popular until about the 1950s.

It’s funny how things keep turning in the world of fashion. Everything old is new again and glass cabinet knobs are back in style after years of being out of fashion. It shouldn’t be too surprising that glass cabinet knobs are back in fashion, as they offer homeowners a stunning look that goes far beyond the ordinary metal, porcelain or wood knobs that dominate the market.

In the first wave of popularity, glass knobs were something of a necessity, as a country at war demanded every last drop of metal to fuel the manufacture of weapons to defeat the enemy. Glass was not so much the first choice as the only choice as it was one of the few materials that was not rationed during the war.

Today, antique glass knobs are very expensive to purchase. They are highly prized by homeowners and collectors, particularly those homeowners who have a period home and want to restore it to its original condition.

That doesn’t mean glass cabinet knobs are out of reach for homeowners today. While original glass knobs can cost upwards of $100, newly manufactured knobs are priced competitively with other knobs, starting at $2.50 and up, depending on style, color and intricacy of design.

Glass cabinet knobs come in all colors, shapes, and sizes these days. While clear glass is always popular, you can get beautiful knobs in cobalt blue, amber, red, purple, green, and the list goes on. The same is true for the form. The round is a perennial favorite, but you can also get hexagonal, ribbed, oval, and even square. And if you have a combination of knobs and pulls, you can often find matching glass pulls too.

The original glass knobs usually had six, eight, or even 12 facets, like a diamond. Modern manufacturing techniques allow designers to go off the grid when it comes to design, which is why you’ll see a lot more variations these days.

That’s a good thing, as even contemporary cabinets in the bathroom or kitchen can benefit from glass cabinet knobs. Of course, glass knobs look terrific in a traditional kitchen or one with Victorian, Craftsman or country-inspired design elements, as they can be reminiscent of a simpler time.

Care must be taken to keep these knobs clean. Without regular cleaning, fingerprints, grime and dirt can build up and will begin to lose their radiant, reflective beauty. Cleaning them is simple, however. An ordinary glass cleaner that you use on your windows and a soft cloth should work fine. Avoid any abrasive cleaners as they will scratch the glass surface.

When shopping for glass knobs for your home, be sure to buy a few extras. Glass can break and chip, and while it’s rare, you can’t really repair glass. While experts recommend repairing old glass with epoxies, you’ll get a much better result if you simply replace a broken, chipped, or cracked knob with a new one. Having a few extras makes this easy and will keep your cabinets looking beautiful for years to come.

As always, you may want to start looking for glass cabinet knobs online where there is a superior selection. Local home improvement and interior design stores will have a smaller selection, which may also be limited in terms of designs as they are meant to appeal to a mass market. Shopping online allows you to locate those rare gems that will make your cabinets one of a kind.