Granny's Glasses...wine glasses, that is
March 28, 2010 6:24 PM Subscribe
Can you identify these wine (water? sherry? liqueur?) glasses? Pics 1, 2, 3, 4. They are from before 1960 and feature an etched design and, oddly, rose pink bases. Bonus question: what beverages are the different sizes/shapes meant to contain?
These were my grandmother's, and she'd had them when my mother was a kid, so we know they were around before 1960. Over the years, many of them have broken and disappeared. I'm down to four of the larges and six each of the two smaller sizes. I would really like to know the name of the pattern and where it originally came from so I can track down some replacements. I scour antique shops for these glasses and still have never seen even one to match.
The etched pattern (best visible in #3) looks pretty Art Deco to me. They seem to be crystal or at least very nice quality, very clear and shiny glass. The rose base has sort of a matte finish and a radiating mold pattern underneath, but no maker's mark at all. These could be middle-of-the-road quality glasses from some department store, because my forebears weren't rich, but they could also have a been a splurge - they were lace-curtain Irish. The family has been in the Northeast since 1900 so I've often wondered if they came from a regional store.
Thanks for any help you can give. I know IDing dishware is often a needle in a haystack errand.
These were my grandmother's, and she'd had them when my mother was a kid, so we know they were around before 1960. Over the years, many of them have broken and disappeared. I'm down to four of the larges and six each of the two smaller sizes. I would really like to know the name of the pattern and where it originally came from so I can track down some replacements. I scour antique shops for these glasses and still have never seen even one to match.
The etched pattern (best visible in #3) looks pretty Art Deco to me. They seem to be crystal or at least very nice quality, very clear and shiny glass. The rose base has sort of a matte finish and a radiating mold pattern underneath, but no maker's mark at all. These could be middle-of-the-road quality glasses from some department store, because my forebears weren't rich, but they could also have a been a splurge - they were lace-curtain Irish. The family has been in the Northeast since 1900 so I've often wondered if they came from a regional store.
Thanks for any help you can give. I know IDing dishware is often a needle in a haystack errand.
Best answer: You can send those pictures to Replacements.com and they will find the pattern, tell you the name, tell you if they have it in stock, and, if not, ask you if you want them to try to find it.
They ID'd my mom's old, strange glasses within TWO HOURS during the week between Christmas and New Year's, AND had some in stock!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:49 PM on March 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
They ID'd my mom's old, strange glasses within TWO HOURS during the week between Christmas and New Year's, AND had some in stock!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:49 PM on March 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
Replacements is particularly good for crystal and fine art glass, and they have a very good catalog of etching patterns. They usually sell top-quality items towards the upper end of the market value, but it can be worth it for rarity as opposed to scouring antique and thrift shops, auctions and yard sales. Also, sometimes they have decent sales; my mom just replaced her unpopular wedding glasses (made for 2 years only!) from a sale at replacements for what I'd price them in a shop.
I agree that these were probably bought at a department store. The etching pattern style was pretty common, but the glassware looks nice and the pattern involved more work than just making the flowers or the flowers and a vine, so I think they must have been a splurge and beloved at the department store.
I'm also thinking they are more likely 1930s-1950s.
posted by julen at 7:08 PM on March 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
I agree that these were probably bought at a department store. The etching pattern style was pretty common, but the glassware looks nice and the pattern involved more work than just making the flowers or the flowers and a vine, so I think they must have been a splurge and beloved at the department store.
I'm also thinking they are more likely 1930s-1950s.
posted by julen at 7:08 PM on March 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
(I have no idea what they are or what specifically they are for, but I just have to say that they're really, really pretty and you should use them for whatever beverage you have on hand!)
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:29 PM on March 28, 2010
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:29 PM on March 28, 2010
I actually have 3 more questions:
Is the pinkish color painted on or the actual color of the glass?
The mark on the foot of the glasses with the radiating mold marks - how many are there? 2? 3? 4? (assuming they are mold lines from creating the glass as opposed to an impressed star or asterisk-like pattern)
When you ping your fingernail against the glass what kind of sound does it make?
posted by julen at 7:42 PM on March 28, 2010
Is the pinkish color painted on or the actual color of the glass?
The mark on the foot of the glasses with the radiating mold marks - how many are there? 2? 3? 4? (assuming they are mold lines from creating the glass as opposed to an impressed star or asterisk-like pattern)
When you ping your fingernail against the glass what kind of sound does it make?
posted by julen at 7:42 PM on March 28, 2010
Response by poster: Wow - very helpful so far, everyone, thanks.
Julen - the pink stuff is actually a different material fused onto the glass. It's almost like a terra cotta - more porous, and the color throughout. As far as the pattern, it's a center circle with nothing inside, surrounded by sort of a sun-ray design of radiating lines in a larger circle. Bad description, but a blurry photo is here.
They make a nice, resonant, bell-like 'ping.'
posted by Miko at 8:16 PM on March 28, 2010
Julen - the pink stuff is actually a different material fused onto the glass. It's almost like a terra cotta - more porous, and the color throughout. As far as the pattern, it's a center circle with nothing inside, surrounded by sort of a sun-ray design of radiating lines in a larger circle. Bad description, but a blurry photo is here.
They make a nice, resonant, bell-like 'ping.'
posted by Miko at 8:16 PM on March 28, 2010
Ah, the pink was probably fire-painted on (the heat sealed the paint on*). It's not the right term, but it is descriptive of the process. Because it's a solid color, I'm thinking it's closer to the 40s than the late 50s.
There's a chance that the glass itself was made by one glassmaker (usually one of the big glass conglomerates that merged lots of smaller glassmakers) and then decorated (fire-painting, etching) by another, smaller company. This was pretty common practice in the 40s and early 50s, and the resulting product could be ordered from the decorator company or bought in department and specialty stores across the country. The big companies did do some decorating themselves, but they didn't do a lot of multiple decorations.
I've seen that sunray design on the bottom before. I'll have to think on it overnight. I keep wanting to say it is a Jeannette Glass foot pattern, but I don't think that's actually right.
* After sprayed on irridescent pigments - used to create stretch & carnival glass worked out so well, paint that could be applied and sealed on was the next big innovation in both fine and table glass obects
posted by julen at 10:00 PM on March 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's a chance that the glass itself was made by one glassmaker (usually one of the big glass conglomerates that merged lots of smaller glassmakers) and then decorated (fire-painting, etching) by another, smaller company. This was pretty common practice in the 40s and early 50s, and the resulting product could be ordered from the decorator company or bought in department and specialty stores across the country. The big companies did do some decorating themselves, but they didn't do a lot of multiple decorations.
I've seen that sunray design on the bottom before. I'll have to think on it overnight. I keep wanting to say it is a Jeannette Glass foot pattern, but I don't think that's actually right.
* After sprayed on irridescent pigments - used to create stretch & carnival glass worked out so well, paint that could be applied and sealed on was the next big innovation in both fine and table glass obects
posted by julen at 10:00 PM on March 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: what beverages are the different sizes/shapes meant to contain?
From L-R...Wine goblet, water, aperitif.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:03 AM on March 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
From L-R...Wine goblet, water, aperitif.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:03 AM on March 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not sure about the name of the pattern, but a useful search term would be "depression glass." You can find quite a few guides to depression glass online.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:32 AM on March 29, 2010
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:32 AM on March 29, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks. I've written replacements.com - and PhoB, that search term turned up this - which though it isn't my glass, has an impressed pattern on the base that looks a lot like the one on my glasses' base. So if julen's suspicion that it's a company standard pattern is correct, my glasses might be related to the Hocking pattern, Mayfair Open Rose (even though the actual glass is quite different).
posted by Miko at 8:10 AM on March 29, 2010
posted by Miko at 8:10 AM on March 29, 2010
Anchor, Hocking, and their later merged company Anchor-Hocking was one of my first thoughts for glassmaker, but that foot didn't show up in any of my reference books dealing with AH. There is a Federal Glass pattern that is similar as a primary motif (i.e. a motif visible at first look, not as a base pattern). The problem is that there has been a lot of um, "borrowing" of motifs and patterns and ideas in the 20th century glass industries, which makes it harder to narrow down sometimes on a maker without counting mold marks or measuring tiny motifs or comparing colors.
I'm looking forward to hearing what Replacements says, because I have no more clarity this morning than last night.
Depression Glass refers to most of the glass produced during the 1930s - although popularly, it is perceived as being only translucent pink (or green) pieces, often with molded or acid-etched designs - but DG encompasses everything from milk glass to decorated crystal to novelty glasses with Shirley Temple's picture on them. The big glass conglomerates produced all of these sorts of glass to appeal to all sorts of markets - and innovations in the 20s and 30s allowed them to do it cheaply and find a way to survive. But the most popular collectible Depression glass is the translucent pink and green and that dominates the google search results when searching on Depression glass, and can make it harder to track down information on contemporaneous glass.
posted by julen at 9:33 AM on March 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm looking forward to hearing what Replacements says, because I have no more clarity this morning than last night.
Depression Glass refers to most of the glass produced during the 1930s - although popularly, it is perceived as being only translucent pink (or green) pieces, often with molded or acid-etched designs - but DG encompasses everything from milk glass to decorated crystal to novelty glasses with Shirley Temple's picture on them. The big glass conglomerates produced all of these sorts of glass to appeal to all sorts of markets - and innovations in the 20s and 30s allowed them to do it cheaply and find a way to survive. But the most popular collectible Depression glass is the translucent pink and green and that dominates the google search results when searching on Depression glass, and can make it harder to track down information on contemporaneous glass.
posted by julen at 9:33 AM on March 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
It reminds me of the Princess House line of glass stuff.
posted by onhazier at 4:23 PM on March 29, 2010
posted by onhazier at 4:23 PM on March 29, 2010
Response by poster: Replacements wrote back! Haven't had a chance to Google this yet, but will after my next meeting. Thanks so much for the recommendation. What a company.
Thank you for contacting Replacements, Ltd. The information youposted by Miko at 7:57 AM on March 30, 2010
requested is shown below.
Prices on inventory currently available in your pattern(s) as of 03/30/2010
Pattern: SGM2-Red by Standard Glass [SGMSGM2R]
Description: Clear,Gray Cut Floral&Dots,Red Foot
This e-mail is to confirm that we have you in our files for the above
pattern. We are sorry that we do not currently have pieces in this pattern
in stock. We will continue to send you e-mails from time to time as a
reminder that we still have you in our files and continue to search for
pieces in your pattern. We will notify you by e-mail when stock becomes
available. If you have not yet indicated to us specifically which pieces
you need, please call or e-mail us your specific requests so that we may
better serve you in the future. Thank you.
Best answer: Yay, Replacements!
Wow, I was way off - Standard Glass is an older company than my timeframe assumptions, so I didn't even consider them, even though I've sold a set of Standard Glass cordials etched with a dozen little circles. I've never seen those pieces with the fired overlay, though.
It looks like your pattern is significantly earlier than my estimates - probably from the 1930s. (It looks like Replacements has pieces in yellow and clear in stock.)
Since your google search was probably frustrating ...
This Standard (Manufacturing) Glass (as opposed to the dozens of other companies called Standard Glass) was founded around 1905 in Bremen, OH. They formed a loose relationship with Lancaster Glass (Lancaster often provided the base forms they cut/decorated), and both companies were semi-purchased (a controlling interest, although they were technically semi-independent) by the new Anchor Hocking Company in 1925 after a big fire at the AH glassblowing factories, and continued under their own brands through the 1930s, when the company were purchased outright and products were centralized under the Anchor Hocking brand.
There isn't a lot of good reference material on Standard Glass Co - on any of the 3 companies who made tableware under that name (Ohio, Pittsburgh area, Boston area) - I'm sorry to say.
posted by julen at 3:47 PM on March 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Wow, I was way off - Standard Glass is an older company than my timeframe assumptions, so I didn't even consider them, even though I've sold a set of Standard Glass cordials etched with a dozen little circles. I've never seen those pieces with the fired overlay, though.
It looks like your pattern is significantly earlier than my estimates - probably from the 1930s. (It looks like Replacements has pieces in yellow and clear in stock.)
Since your google search was probably frustrating ...
This Standard (Manufacturing) Glass (as opposed to the dozens of other companies called Standard Glass) was founded around 1905 in Bremen, OH. They formed a loose relationship with Lancaster Glass (Lancaster often provided the base forms they cut/decorated), and both companies were semi-purchased (a controlling interest, although they were technically semi-independent) by the new Anchor Hocking Company in 1925 after a big fire at the AH glassblowing factories, and continued under their own brands through the 1930s, when the company were purchased outright and products were centralized under the Anchor Hocking brand.
There isn't a lot of good reference material on Standard Glass Co - on any of the 3 companies who made tableware under that name (Ohio, Pittsburgh area, Boston area) - I'm sorry to say.
posted by julen at 3:47 PM on March 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Julen, thanks - I've found your context really helpful. I'm glad to have a name and way to look for some additions to the set. The age also sheds light on family history - we didn't know they were quite that old, as we thought the glasses were purchased by some aunts in the 50s as a gift to my great-grandmother. If so, they were already used! They were probably actually her own glasses.
I did try Googling on Standard Glass and found them hard to to pin down. It's good to know why. It also helps explain why, in a lifetime spent haunting junk and antique shops, I've never seen these glasses once - not a super common pattern.
But I have much more to go on now than ever before. Thanks everyone!
posted by Miko at 8:20 PM on March 30, 2010
I did try Googling on Standard Glass and found them hard to to pin down. It's good to know why. It also helps explain why, in a lifetime spent haunting junk and antique shops, I've never seen these glasses once - not a super common pattern.
But I have much more to go on now than ever before. Thanks everyone!
posted by Miko at 8:20 PM on March 30, 2010
« Older When should I come back to see my show? | Slang for "white trash with high-class attitude?" Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by amyms at 6:46 PM on March 28, 2010