Hobnail Milk Glass Vase The vase in the image is a hobnail milk glass vase, a popular style of glassware. The hobnail pattern is characterized by the raised dots, or "hobs," that cover the surface of the glass. Milk glass is an opaque or translucent glassware, typically white, that was very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The vases are often associated with brands like Fenton, which produced a wide variety of hobnail milk glass items