Skip The Thrift Store: Stay Safe And Get This Vintage Glass From Costco Instead

Raise a glass to vintage drinkware, because tumblers, coupes, wine glasses, and other vessels are having a bit of a moment. And among the Depression-era glass patterns you might be tempted to snap up in a thrift store is the raised knob-like texture of hobnail glass meant to emulate the hobnail studs it's named for. But you might be drinking in more than just the charm. While these vintage glasses are beautiful, they're not necessarily safe to drink from. Back when they were manufactured, lead was used to give drinkware a nice heft and make it more malleable so it could be etched with intricate details. (U.S. regulations were introduced in 1978.) And while occasionally sipping from a lead-laced glass is likely okay, there's no known safe level of lead exposure, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning it's not worth risking neurological issues, mood disorders, or potential heart disease.

But there's no need to pour one out for your vintage glass dreams. Instead of scouring a thrift store for authentic but dangerous, dishware, peruse the shelves of your local Costco — there are plenty of vintage-inspired finds you can get at the big box store. Those drawn to the handblown look of hobnail glass can score the same feel with Costco's Jupiter by Fortessa DOF and Beverage Glass Set. The 12-piece set delivers vintage vibes — but you won't have to have them professionally tested for lead like you would any thrift shop buys.

Popularized in the United States after Fenton Art Glass introduced their version in 1939, hobnob glass's appeal is the rounded, raised bumpy surface. The knobs not only make the glasses easier to grip, they refract light and lend the drinkware a sparkling appearance. Plus the polka dot texture is high on charm. And you can serve up that same look with Costco's dishwasher-safe version. Each set contains six 13-ounce beverage glasses and six 10-ounce double old fashioned glasses — available in a clear shade, a deep blue, or an elegant pink hue.

A twist on more streamlined barware, the retro-inspired pick can easily dress up a bar cart or dinner party. And customers continuously raise a glass to their quality. With more than 600 reviewers delivering a 4.7-star rating, many praise the value of Costco's pricing, noting they paid a fraction of what they would at other stores. Quite a few buyers also weighed in on the feel of the drinkware. "These glasses have a nice grip, so they don't slip out of your hands," raved one reviewer. Added another, "They are so nice to pick up and hold, they are beautiful and because of the dot shapes they do not collect condensation like flat glasses."