Covid Journal, Day 275: Old Glass at Work

28, cloudy, with a red sunrise, so I suppose some kind of wet weather is on the way.

Old glass isn't just pretty, it's useful too. 

As most readers here know, I have a love affair with Early American Pattern Glass. It's all over my house and I have become very strict with myself about what I buy now. No more chipped or cracked pieces, or pieces missing their lids. I have even--gulp--purged several such pieces in my recent cleaning. I only have so much space, after all, and I don't want my home to begin looking like a hoarder's house. Sometimes I feel like it's teetering on the brink anyway, at which time I have another cleanout.

For years I couldn't buy pretty things. Raising 5 sons and for most of that time living on a near-minimum-wage income, there wasn't money for extras. Sometimes I bought things at yard sales, and cherished each and every one. I grew up with my mother's china cabinet, remember, that was filled with beautiful glass and china. I well remember the crystal pieces, and still have one of her pitchers. She had many English porcelain cups and saucers too, so you know where my love of those came from. About 8 years ago I found my own china cabinet at a yard sale, and it's now full of beautiful old glass. 

I like to use this antique glass, especially for holidays and special occasions. I'm content to just look at it on shelves and in cabinets, but it's nice to have it on the table too. So this week I got out some of the spooners and other pieces for our table.

The spooners are a pattern called Red Block, or Captain Kidd, made by Fostoria Glass around 1890. The little sugar bowl I use for preserves is Derby, by Westmoreland Glass, around 1904. I can't remember the pattern of the tray, but I think it is later, probably 1920's, and was a dresser tray that would have held perfumes, powder jars and the like. Also never identified the salt and pepper, yet. Maybe one day I'll get to them.

I use my glass for seasonal decorating too, changing the colors with the season. Here is some of this year's glass on display on the buffet.

The cake stand under the tree was a recent ebay gift to myself. For once, I actually paid retail value but I decided I had earned it after a stellar month of selling. The ruby goblet is a reproduction, made by Fenton for LG Wright glass, in a pattern called Strawberry and Currant. The green spooner on the left is called Croesus by Riverside Glass, circa 1894, and the little glasses are, I think US Glass's Mirror and Fan. The date on these is vague as the pattern was made as late as 1962. The green hobnail I think is probably a recent piece, but it's green so in the display it goes.

The red plate--actually amberina, with shades of orange in the ruby--gives a nice glow here. I think it's also a newer piece, but handmade. Maybe Blenko? The sugar and cream set is called Arched Ovals, US Glass, circa 1904. The tray they're on I have not yet identified, but I believe it is from the American Brilliant Period cut glass. The green compote is the Shoshone pattern by US Glass, about 1898. It's also called Victor and Blazing Pinwheels. The goblet on the right is Paneled Daisy and Button, and has pretty amber panels between clear glass sections.

Let's see--the compote on the left, is, Regal, also known as Paneled Forget-Me-Not, by Bryce Brothers, around 1883. And the large compote in the center is Plume, by Adams, around 1889. The tall green vase is also EAPG, but I can't recall the maker. And the red goblet in the background is reproduction Fenton. In front of the tall compote is an amber and clear spooner called Victoria, by Riverside glass, circa 1889.

And more glass--the ruby plate is new, I think, but I've not been able to find one like it. The spooner on top of the cake stand is called Petticoat, an apt name because it has the prettiest base. It was made by National Glass circa 1900. The cake stand is called Fashion--don't you love it? Made by Imperial Glass around 1908. The green bowl is Pride, by Model Flint Glass, 1898 or thereabouts. The goblet inside it is Rising Sun, by US Glass about 1908. Behind the green bowl is a compote called Block and Fan, made by Richards and Hartlet about 1888, and inside it a green spooner named West Virginia Optic by West Virginia Glass, 1894. In the back, a tall green vase in the States pattern "Delaware" by US Glass, C. 1899. And last, the big lidded compote called New Grand, by Bryce, Higbee Glass, about 1888.

So, more about glass than you ever wanted to know, right? If you want to identify your antique glass, there is a fantastic online database maintained by the EarlyAmerican Pattern Glass Society that has several ways to help you find your piece: by motif --pinwheels, ovals, flowers, etc; by maker, by shape--compote,spooner, etc; or by name. I began my journey about 8 years ago by joining the Facebook group Early American Pattern Glass Society, a large group of knowledgeable experts and beginners alike. It's a friendly, polite group of good people who will help anyone who wants to know about their antique glass--and if your glass isn't within their pervue, they can usually direct you to a good source. 

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.