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Title: Sandwich Glass - A Technical Book for Collectors
Author: Williams, Lenore Wheeler
Language: English
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*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Sandwich Glass - A Technical Book for Collectors" ***
Transcriber’s Note
Obvious punctuation and spelling errors corrected.
Original variations in spelling retained, e.g. cup plates/cup-plates,
candle sticks/candlesticks, slip ware/slipware.
The Collector’s Data section that begins on page 97 in the original ran
for four full pages, presumably to give the readers space to make
their own notes. The amount of blank space has been reduced here, and
the repeating headers consolidated to a single one.
There is a “2” at the top of page 65 in the original which has been
retained, though it may be a misprint. Similar numbers may be found
on the Plates and it’s possible this 2 belongs on Plate XVII on page
68.
Another copy of the original text in the Princeton Library includes a
typewritten correction on page 13. The author and date of the
correction is unclear, but reads ‘Page 12, paragraph 3. The words
“SOFT TIN” is a misprint and should be “IRON.”’
Italic text in the original is represented by underscores surrounding
the _italic text_.
Small-cap text in the original is shown as ALL CAPS.
Descriptions of some illustrations added to text.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SANDWICH GLASS
_by_
_Lenore Wheeler Williams_
[Decorative emblem with tall sailing ship]
_A Technical Book
for Collectors_
_Copyright, 1922_
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_Published by_
THE PARK CITY ENG. CO.
BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
_Publishers and Plate Makers_
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_DEDICATION_
To G. I., H. H., N. L., M. V. all born collectors whose
love for old things is greater than their
commercial value
and to
H. C. K.
who gave the author the courage to write this book.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_Contents_
[Small Decoration]
SANDWICH GLASS
by
LENORE WHEELER WILLIAMS, Collector of Early
American Antiques.
_A Collector’s Hand Book
illustrating 186 different specimens covering the entire
subject of_
1.—Glass Cup Plates—historical and conventional.
2.—Salts and Victorian Animals.
3.—American Glass Candlesticks and Whale Oil Lamps.
4.—Flat Ware of the early period.
5.—Presentation and Commercial pieces.
Types, colors, molds, historical data, and information regarding the
Sandwich Glass Company and its output gathered from specimens collected
by the author covering ninety-odd thousand miles by motor.
On sale by the author at 522 Madison Ave., New York City; summers at
“Great Hearth,” Hopkinton, New Hampshire.
Price $5.00 Edition limited.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preface
It is not the purpose of the author in this volume to treat of the
myriads of pressed glass dating from the centennial to the present day
masquerading in shops as “Sandwich glass” and cluttering up the cabinets
of the unwary collector only to be discarded later by those who have
learned by comparison with the beautiful lacy specimens of early
Sandwich that they have been led to acquire pieces of little beauty and
less real value. It is of the period of Sandwich glass dating from the
opening of the factory in 1825 by a handful of men, blowers of great
physique, artists, and mold makers, some of whom started in the
struggling “Parent Tree” factory of 1817, down to the period of greatest
prosperity in 1853—that we are dealing with. These men put their best
efforts into designs of intricate beauty. There is no comparison between
their work and the later commercial pressed glass which took unto itself
all the worst features of Victorian decoration and which was never found
upon the tables of people of good taste, who turned from pressed glass
to English cut during this latter period, or preserved with reverence
and used on state occasions the pieces of a generation before. This late
glass covered with stars and rosettes in ugly amber and blue and white
became a tremendous advertising medium and was distributed as premiums
and sold in quantity at very cheap prices. The author sees no object in
collecting it to-day other than the commercializing of an unworthy
product. The glass sheltered by the Mansard roof does not fit in with
early Sandwich.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_HISTORY_
Forerunners of the Sandwich works—Evolution of the Industry
In 1787 a factory was established on Essex Street, Boston by Whalley,
Hunnewell and others for making crown window glass. This enterprise was
not a success until 1803 when a German by the name of Lint arrived. From
then on the factory became prosperous; the state paid a bounty and by
1822 the glass had become famous and was known as Boston Window glass.
This factory was given the exclusive right in their charter for a number
of years.
In 1811 they erected a larger and improved factory in South Boston, and
sent to England for more blowers of window glass but could not get them
on account of the war so they turned to using flint glass blowers,
previously brought from Europe. This factory in South Boston was the
“parent tree” of the Sandwich works. It failed in the thirties and
started up again and failed many times but was running in 1854.
Another Company was formed in 1811 called the Porcelain and Glass
Manufacturing Company at East Cambridge but it failed in the production
of both attempted products because of poor management. The plant was
sold at auction November, 1817, and bought by a new company which called
itself The New England Glass Company. This enterprise was successful
from the beginning—in 1817, thus we see that some specimens of N. E. G.
are of earlier date than Sandwich glass.
Its capital of $40,000 in 1817 increased until in 1853 it was $500,000.
The start was a six pot furnace with 700 pounds to each pot. Forty hands
were employed and the yearly product was $40,000. In 1853 there were
five furnaces with ten pots of 2,000 pounds each and 500 hands, and
doing a business of $500,000. The author hopes that this may throw some
light upon the incredulous amateur collector’s query of “Where does all
the old glass come from?”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SANDWICH GLASS WORKS_
In 1825 a flint glass manufactory was established at Sandwich,
Massachusetts. Building was started in April, and July 4th, 1825 they
commenced blowing. It was purchased in 1826 by a new company calling
itself The Boston and Sandwich Glass Company. The beginning was an 8 pot
furnace—each pot holding 800 pounds and a yearly product of $75,000.
There were at first 60 employees but by 1853 the capital was $400,000
with weekly melts of 100,000 pounds—500 employees—four furnaces of 10
pots producing yearly $600,000 worth of cup plates, lamps, dishes, salt
cellars, etcetra.
Deming Jarves, one of the incorporators of the Boston and Sandwich Glass
Company, writes in 1854 as follows:
“In 1825 a Flint Glass Manufactory was established by individual
enterprise in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Ground was broke in April,
dwellings for the workmen built and the manufactory completed; and on
July 4, 1825 they commenced blowing glass, three months after first
breaking ground.”
In the early days of the factory the life of a glass blower was short
due to the overheated glass houses but for twenty years prior to 1854 no
employee of the Boston and Sandwich Company died or was seriously ill
from his employment. The invention of the mold machine saved many lives.
The pressing mold for glass was invented in 1827 by a workman named
Robinson at the New England Glass Company but was later adopted and
perfected by the Sandwich works.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_PRESSED GLASS_
Pressed glass was many times reheated to a point sufficient to melt a
thin surface layer—This was called “fire polishing.” It removed any
roughness due to the process of molding and left a smooth bright
surface.
Flint glass—The name of flint glass was derived from the fact that in
England flints were calcined and pulverized to make silica which is the
main constituent of glass. The use of flint made the glass highly
refractive and brilliant and oxide of lead which was also added
increased it.
As pressed glass was the main product of the Sandwich works the few
blown specimens of the factory will be taken up by the author in a
separate volume dealing with the blown pitchers, plates, flips, jars,
and balls blown at Willington, Westford, New London, Stoddard,
Lyndeboro, Keene, and Chelmsford.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_MOLDS_
The mold machine invented by the New England Glass Works revolutionized
the flint glass industry. By its use glass could be pressed into any
shape.
Glass in melted form is not malleable but its ductility is next to gold
and by steady pressure can be forced into any shape. The mass blown
against and into moulds was subjected to the stamp and penetrated the
most delicate carvings. In places the early stippled specimens of
Sandwich glass are only a thirty-second of an inch in thickness. The
resulting sharpness of detail is wonderful.
The reason that nothing remains of the early molds is accounted for by
the fact that iron was a costly commodity even as late as 1825. Thrift
was responsible for the success of our forefathers and the glass molds
which were made of soft tin were melted and re-run as they became dull
from usage. Original designs were destroyed as new patterns were
evolved. With the invention of the stamping machine iron ladles were
used to pour the glass into the mold. We are often puzzled to know why a
pontil should appear on early specimens of “pressed” glass. This is
because the earlier specimens were actually blown against and into the
molds before the invention of mechanical pressure.
Soft Slip, a clay used in making the old Connecticut slip ware dishes
was run into a new mold. This proof showed any imperfections as well as
supplying the works with a pattern for a new mold when necessary. These
proofs were easily broken and of little use at the factory after a mold
was discontinued.
A poor impression was caused by a worn out mold or as in the case of the
very early plates made by plungers before the stamp machine came into
use, by insufficient contact with the mold. The rarest type of Bunker
Hill cup plate illustrates this point.
The carving of iron molds was called “Chipping” and mold chippers were
responsible for the art of the finished product.
When the New England Glass Company moved to Ohio in the Eighties
thousands of iron molds were sold to junk dealers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_COMPOSITION_
Sandwich glass was made of silex, ash, nitre, pig lead, and other
ingredients but the secret of the bright surface on old pressed glass, a
characteristic which differentiates it from the modern pressed glass,
was the use of barytes. This was introduced into the molten mass and
gave the beautiful silver tint that we find in early glass. The New
England Glass Company omitted this barytes from its glass with resulting
dullness. Its specimens are all crude and heavy in comparison with the
lacy examples of early Sandwich.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_NOTES FOR COLLECTORS_
1. A small pocket lens is invaluable in studying the designs on Sandwich
glass.
2. The mounting of specimens on black satine brings out a higher
refractive quality of the glass than when mounted on velvet.
3. Specimens that show signs of wear may be touched up and made
brilliant by a slight application of the banana oil lacquer.
4. “Rust” a term for the scum that rose to the surface of the pot and
had to be thoroughly removed by skimming, often appears on specimens
making them less valuable for collection. A weak solution of acid will
improve the glass in such cases.
Many interesting facts concerning Sandwich glass have been gained from
contact with owners of inherited specimens in the remote districts of
New England—in many cases the descendants of glass blowers whose
knowledge is real, not based upon hearsay in going from shop to shop.
The popular term “Snake-skin” refers to the resemblance of the stippled
back ground in early Sandwich glass to the skin of a snake. I like the
term Lace glass better as it more clearly conveys the delicacy of
treatment. There was a later glass produced by the Sandwich works in
1875 in order to meet the popular demand at less expense. This might
well be called Snake-skin because the stippling is so merged that the
term applies to it much more than to the fine early specimen. This glass
was made in machine cut molds. There was more background than detail and
the pieces were sold in cheap sets.
Throughout this work the author has in every instance purposely omitted
the question of values. The value of old things is not intrinsic. It is
governed by the demand and not by set prices. Inestimable harm has been
done unintentionally by popular magazine writers who have quoted prices
forgetting that those who go far afield may pay to-day a large price for
a piece that to-morrow they find for a song, thus evening up the
collecting average. The mere quotation of a price means nothing to the
real collector but it immediately plants in the minds of the uninitiated
who do not discriminate between their treasures the idea that they can
get the amount quoted and more next time and so the practice of
“hoarding” and “pyramiding” is established. It begins with the farmer’s
wife and does not stop with the dealer and collector until the modest
collector becomes discouraged and his interest dies. To the very few who
understand the joy of exchanging duplicate specimens regardless of value
and of taking a small profit over what they pay thus enabling them to
complete their collections in the spirit of olden days this book is
dedicated.
As the reproduction of blown glass is easier than pressed there is a
certain joy in owning fine specimens of the latter. The field is too
broad and the designs too intricate to tempt the modern mold maker. The
machine product is too obviously regular and lacks the silvery
brightness produced in old pressed glass by the use of barytes and the
artistic technique of the hand made mold.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_CUP PLATES_
In the days when our forefathers considered it quite correct to pour tea
from the cup into the saucer and drink it from the latter the problem
still remained of an unsightly ring upon the linen. Thus the cup plate
was evolved in the first place from a purely utilitarian standpoint. It
took the place of the modern coaster but later became a subject for
“table talk” in the form of political and social reform. The thought and
sentiment of the times were worked into the dainty molds and the
resulting cup-plates became works of art.
The first plates were crude and heavy but as time went on less glass was
blown against the molds with greater force resulting in plates of
brilliant stippling and delicacy. New designs were carved until in 1840,
when the ship Constitution was about to be junked, to arouse public
opinion one of the most exquisite octagon plates appeared—representing
the highest art in Sandwich glass.
The invention of the stamp machine increased the production and the
little plates came away from the molds with clearer and sharper edges
and brilliancy of detail. The first cup plates made were conventional or
geometrical patterns. The author owns one one-half inch thick with
pontil, a rare example of the first process.
Previous to the period 1825-30 the dinner sets made in England for the
American market included cup plates of china. During this time the
conventional cup plates were first put out by the Sandwich Glass Works
and soon gained such great popularity, due both to their beauty and
their fitness with any china, that cup plates were generally omitted
from dinner sets thereafter. People who could not afford entire dinner
sets had previously gone without cup plates and the glass cup plate was
an innovation.
Distribution of their products was a great problem at the Sandwich
works. Much glass found its way over the country by way of the tin
peddlers cart. The finding of a number of specimens in the same locality
to-day can often be traced back to a peddler who went out of business in
that particular town—his wares to be rediscovered by a later generation.
The author has in her cup plate collection a slipware “proof” of the
ship Cadmus. This was the first run of a new mold and served as a
pattern from which to take orders. The iron molds were too much in use
to show to prospective buyers and the little glass plates themselves too
fragile and hence the proof of red glazed clay served the double purpose
of showing necessary corrections in a new mold and giving the company a
“sample” cup plate. These proofs are very rare as they seldom got out of
the hands of the factory and were destroyed as new patterns were created
to take the place of the old.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE I]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_THE EAGLE GROUP_
1. Fort Pitt—Eagle in flight grasping arrows and olive branch, 24
stars scattered in background, ribbon from eagle’s beak with
words FORT PITT. Edge peacock feather design, wings half folded.
Issued to recall Washington’s capture of Fort Duquesne—renamed
Fort Pitt.
A—Same serrated edge.
Rare.
2. Rayed eagle—Deeply serrated, edge with bulls eye in each scallop,
13 stars with rays on stippled field.
A—Smaller and more numerous serrations.
Uncommon.
3. Miniature rayed eagle—Same as No. 2 with outer border omitted. This
plate is the size of the bee-hive and is exceedingly rare.
4. Scroll bordered eagle—Fine stippling, shield on breast of eagle is
lacking and the edge is unserrated.
5. Large eagle with 13 stars, medallion border, no stippling in
background.
Uncommon.
6. 1831 Eagle—Five stars signifying new states added, dated 1831,
eagle facing to left.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE II]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Grape eagle—A small eagle surrounded with circle of dots, and a
border of grapes and branches with leaves alternating. Outer
border has four large stars, edge scalloped and pointed with
stipple extending to edge of serrations.
Rare.
8. Same with no stippling in scallops and points on clear ground.
Rare.
9. Small eagle with inner circle of stippling fleur de lis and flowers
in alternate band in clear ground border consisting of three
leaf and scroll motifs and three clear flowers—the finest
stippling is used in this plate which is so delicate that it is
difficult to find perfect specimens.
Uncommon.
10. Concentric circle eagle—As we go to press a small eagle has been
found with background of concentric circles extending to edge of
plate—Clear ground.
Rare.
11. Plain bordered eagle—Bulls eye serrations—13 stars around eagle in
scattered field.
Rare.
A—Edge with plain serrations without bulls eyes.
Rare.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE III]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_BUNKER HILL GROUP_
This series of four distinct designs was gotten out to commemorate the
completion of the Bunker Hill monument. Three changes in the mold were
made before the works were satisfied with the plate. The earliest is
very rare.
12. Bunker Hill Monument on clear ground, three lines of inscription,
outer line set off by rope in tassels, bricks in monument.
Corner stone laid by Lafayette, June 17, 1825
Bunker Hill battle fought June 17, 1776
From the Fair to the Brave
Finished by the Ladies 1841
13. Same as 12, with twelve stars in inner circle around monument.
14. Bunker Hill with rope border, two lines of inscription without
bricks in monument, twelve stars in circle around monument.
15. Bunker Hill Monument, one row of inscription only, twelve stars in
larger circle around monument with one star above with bricks,
rope border.
Rare.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_THE SHIP GROUP_
16. Cadmus—Small square rigged ship in circle of dots, border like
plate No. 7. This plate is called the small Constitution by many
as the ship is undoubtedly the same type of vessel but the plate
was gotten out to represent the Cadmus, the ship which brought
Lafayette to America in 1824, and shows the early cruder
workmanship—See Camehl page 197.
17. The Constitution—Large square rigged ship in center, inner border
type of No. 7, octagonal plate of exquisite workmanship. Note
cover design of this book. This cup plate represents the acme of
Sandwich glass designing. It was issued when feeling was running
high against the probable “junking” of the Constitution in hopes
that public opinion might change the fate of the old sailing
vessel.
Very Rare.
18. Pennsylvania steam boat-octagonal. This is the companion piece to
the Constitution. The inner border varies in that it has four
shields and scrolls in a background of horizontal lines. In
popular magazine articles this boat has been called the Fulton
but any one familiar with the old wood cuts of Robert Fulton’s
steam boat will note that they do not bear the slight slightest
resemblance to the boat on the cup-plate whereas it is the
almost exact counter part of the side wheeler Pennsylvania that
plied the Ohio River. Further Fulton’s boats had one mast for
sailing in case of trouble.
I refer my reader to the “Blue China Book,” by Camehl page 224, “City of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Steam Boat,” by Clews, and to page 231, “Fulton
Steam Boat” and ask them to draw their own conclusion. The political
situation in regard to navigation on the Ohio River at this time has
further bearing on the subject. A further note that will substantiate
this claim is that in a careful check list of known specimens kept and
much research work done along the lines of glass found in a given
locality, the majority of these rare little octagonal cup plates and the
still rarer large plates with the same ship in the center have come out
of Pennsylvania, showing that the Pennsylvania Steam Boat would be
likely to find a readier sale there than elsewhere. It appealed to the
States pride as prior to the Civil War, States Rights were a much more
prominent issue than later on.
Very rare.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE IV]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. Chancellor Livingston—Auxiliary sailing vessel with paddle wheel,
full rigged with flying jibs, American flag at stern, dotted
waves, word “Chancellor” above and “Livingston” below ship on
clear ground. Border two shields, two hearts, and four large
stars on stippled ground. One of America’s first steamboats
named after Robert Livingston, chancellor of New York State, a
partner of Fulton in ship building.
20. Chancellor Livingston same as No. 19 but with stippled ropes.
Uncommon.
21. Chancellor Livingston—With line waves and different arrangement of
spars, an earlier design than No. 19.
22. Benjamin Franklin—Full rigged ship covering entire center of
plate, flag inscribed B. F. at mast head. American flag at
stern, stippled rigging and elaborate equipment. Border with
spread eagle, four anchors, stars and scrolls.
23. The Maid of the Mist—Boat on rough water showing the Suspension
Bridge at Niagara, the falls and sun above bridge. This
cup-plate was issued in honor of the completion of the bridge
across the Niagara River. A later plate but exceedingly rare. N.
E. G.
Very rare.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE V]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_THE HENRY CLAY GROUP_
24. Henry Clay with one star under small head in center facing left.
Words “Henry Clay” in stippled circle around head. Thistle and
medallion border.
25. Henry Clay with five stars,—a rare plate and one that easily
escapes the notice of the collector who mistakes it for No. 25.
Two of the stars are placed over the head and two outside the
center circle, not in border.
Rare.
26. Henry Clay with no name—A smaller head, than any of the others
without inscription—uncommon but not rare, probably a mold
superceded by No. 25.
27. Henry Clay facing right—A large head facing to the right, in inner
circle of clear glass. Two laurel branches crossed and tied with
ribbon to form a half wreath under portrait. Words HENRY CLAY in
large letters above head, border of fine stippling with ten
large fleurs de lis serrated edge. The author considers this the
rarest cup plate in spite of the recent furor over the
Washington, seven of the latter having turned up in Pennsylvania
alone while it is a fortunate collector indeed who can boast of
a perfect large head of Henry Clay facing right.
28. George Washington large head—octagonal, on background of rays,
very rare. Laurel wreath at edge of border with tiny stars and
scrolls at extreme edge. Much confusion has been occasioned by a
six inch plate with small head of Washington in center.
Inscription George Washington spelled backward. This is of
course not the Washington cup plate although it is a rare
specimen of Sandwich glass.
29. Major Ringgold—Large crude portrait, bust on clear ground, twelve
sided serration. Inscriptions Ringgold left side of head—Palo
Alto to right. Major Ringgold fell in battle at Palo Alto and
was very popular at the time. This cup plate is very rare,—it
pictures the hero of the Mexican war and is one of the crudest
plates ever made. Specimens are seldom found in good condition.
N. E. G. A.—Larger lettering and not twelve sided edge.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE VI]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_THE HARRISON GROUP_
These plates as well as the Clay group were gotten out during the time
that Harrison and Clay were running for president in 1840. His
nomination was also responsible for the log cabin group which follows.
Harrison was an old frontier woodsman and the log cabin was supposed to
be typical of his rugged nature. Horace Greely edited a Whig newspaper
at this time called “The Log Cabin.”
30. Head of Harrison on clear ground—Inscription “Maj. Gen. W. H.
Harrison, Born Feb. 9, 1773” in circle around head, outer circle
of 26 stars, rope border with blank labels above and below.
Uncommon.
31. Head of Harrison with labels with word “President” above and date
1841 below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_THE LOG CABIN GROUP_
32. Log cabin with words “Fort Meigs” above on clear ground, border
with vine and acorns and inscription “Tippecanoe” above and “Wm.
H. Harrison” below. This cup plate belongs equally in the
Harrison group as it was a souvenir in the Harrison Campaign.
All the log cabins were gotten out with this in view.
Uncommon.
33. Log cabin with flag—Flower border, cider barrel, and tree. The
cider barrel typified Harrison’s hospitality; no chimney on
cabin.
34. Log cabin with flag—No barrel—Cabin fills entire center of
plate—two windows—Top only of log chimney showing. Smaller flag
than No. 33, plain border.
Rare.
35. Log cabin, cider barrel; plain border; large tree in full foliage;
one window. Liberty cap on top of flag pole with waving flag.
Bench at base of tree.
Very rare.
36. Log cabin with a large chimney at end, cider barrel under one
window, clear background, the earliest plate issued in this
series. N. E. G.
Rare.
37. Log cabin with acorn border type of No. 33.
Not shown.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE VII]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_MISCELLANEOUS_
38. Bee hive medallion border—Laurel wreath border hive and nine bees.
39. Bee hive medallion border small plate with 11 honey bees above
hive, fine stipple, one of the rarer plates.
A—Same with variation in border.
40. The Lyre—Large Lyre, four strings and two palms filling center of
plate, border groups of rays and pointed, stippling deeply
indented, bulls eye edge.
41. The Hound—Reclining gray hound with branches left and right, oak
leaf border, broken by six circles, clear ground.
42. Harp with laurel wreath and seven pointed star above—a very
beautiful plate. Shamrock border.
A—A four inch plate is found with small harp in center. This is
of course not a true cup plate.
43. The Anchor—Similar plate with large anchor stippled ground stars
and stippled triangles alternating in border.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE VIII]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
44. The Butterfly—A butterfly on stippled center ground, border of
eight forget-me-nots on clear ground.
45. The Unhappy Marriage or double face—Two heads with inscription
above “The Wedding Day”—invert the plate and the same heads are
seen with distorted visage and the words above “Three Weeks
After.” Border of very handsome flowers, clear ground.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_THE FLORAL GROUP_
46. The rose and pansy on stippled ground, size of bee hive, border of
pointed leaves on clear grounds.
47. The daisy—Size of bee-hive, large daisy with ten petals filling
entire center of plate, 13 large five pointed stars in border on
fine stippling. A most delicate and beautiful design.
48. The open rose—Size of bee hive, wild rose in center with two rows
of petals.
49. The thistle—A large thistle in center of plate, fine lacy
stippling.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE IX]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_CONVENTIONAL CUP PLATES_
It is impossible to describe fully the vast number of conventional cup
plates but there are two in the author’s collection that do not fit into
any group. One “A” has 26 large stars on a clear field. N. E. G. It is a
very early plate and I like to call it “the States.” The other “C” is a
later plate of which I do not know of a duplicate. The center is a
feathered nine pointed star in octagon medallion and the border is a
mother goose design with four children, four trees, a pig, and other
nursery rhyme scenery. We illustrate these together with a rare slipware
proof of the ship Cadmus “B”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_THE HEART SERIES_
H1. Single large heart in center background of concentric circles.
Fourteen clear glass hearts in border.
H2. The Valentine. Two hearts in center pierced with arrows, small
flowers on stippled background, lyres in border.
H3. Four interlaced hearts in center, nine hearts in border with sheaf
of wheat between.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE X]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
H4. Same as No. 3 with variation in wheat and three stipples above.
H5. Ten sided edge serrated, thirteen stippled hearts in border,
geometrical center with stipple background.
H6. Twelve sided edge, thirteen stippled hearts in border, center like
No. 5, no serrations.
H7. Thirteen stippled hearts in border, center like No. 5.
H8. Same as No. 7 with twelve stippled hearts in border, two lobes of
center design also stippled.
H9. Same as No. 8 with two stars between each heart, center like No.
6.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XI]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
H10. Same as No. 7 larger size cup plate.
H11. Larger plate type of No. 8 with four lobes of center design
clear.
Not illustrated.
H12. Small plate (size of bee hive) six hearts forming center with
wheel of dew drops between, edge has bull’s eye in each
serration. Hearts are very heavily stippled in waffle design.
H13. Fourteen stippled heart border with fourteen five pointed stars
in diamonds super imposed on hearts in border, center peacock
feather design with star in each bull’s eye.
H14. Twelve sided flower border serrated edge, small stipple triangle
in center, three small hearts in feathered scrolls.
H15. Thirteen stippled hearts in border slightly larger cup plate than
No. 7, background of center clear.
H16. Fourteen rope stippled hearts in border, eight pointed
conventional star in center within a pointed larger star.
New England’s Glass Works Type.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XII]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
H17. Four clear heart center forming clover leaf design, stippled
background, border twelve hearts reversed stippling.
H18. Same center, as No. 17, no stipple in center but plain border
made up of stippling.
H19. Same center as No. 17, no stippling in either hearts or
background, no hearts in border.
H20. Twelve sided serrated edge, twelve stippled hearts in border with
drop ornaments between them. Center design of four motives,
rosettes and stippling.
H21. Six hearts “Waffle Design,” in outer circle of center with
rosettes between them; large six pointed star with rosette in
center, clear ground, vine and wheat border New England Glass
Works type. A companion plate to No. 16.
H22. Eight hearts in center, four with leaves and four stippled,
wreath border.
Previously not much attention has been paid to the Heart Series by
collectors. These are of rare beauty when gathered in sequence. They
were among the most popular plates of the time. They were called the
Sentiment or Valentine cup plates and were more often given as tokens of
regard than any other designs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration:
CONVENTIONAL
PLATE XIII
]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colored cup plates were issued in smaller numbers but were not found
practical because of the expense connected with their manufacture. Many
people considered them not in good taste for table use but the
opalescent conventional plates were more popular. These have necessarily
become rare and the collector who goes in for colored plates to any
extent has a hard undertaking to make his series complete. A
conventional plate popularly called “The Wheel of Fortune” seems to have
been made in lovely shades of lavender, green, amber, mauve, and blue.
Tints or “off-shades” are much sought after by collectors in cup plates.
These color variations were produced by the chemical reaction of an
over-dose of one of the ingredients in the mixture—a “mistake” in
composition.
Of the hundreds of conventional designs we have tried to illustrate only
a few of the unusual and particularly lacy ones.
The author illustrates 78 different cup plates, trusting that the reader
will appreciate the effort made.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_PRESSED GLASS SALTS_
Many of the little salts used on our grandmothers’ tables reflected the
political feeling of the times as did the cup plates, and in noting the
following from the Sandwich works I am including a number of specimens
which the New England Glass factory made in imitation of the Sandwich at
the time. These will be marked N. E. G. in the text. These are heavier,
less transparent, and are from molds crudely carved. The period is 1840.
One salt has come to light marked Robinson & Son, Pittsburgh, Pa. It is
a boat salt similar to the Lafayette boat made at Sandwich but shorter
and broader. It is of clear glass of a later type. Blown glass salts
will be taken up in a subsequent book by the author. The beautiful
conventional designs produced by artists of the Sandwich Glass Company
are so numerous and delicate in workmanship that we illustrate as many
varieties as possible hoping that collectors of these charming little
pieces will understand our purpose and forgive omissions of specimens
that they hold dear. All salts shown are from the author’s collection
and most of them are in pairs, but we show one only for reference. New
varieties are being found daily adding to the fascination of collecting.
The following types are worthy of note:
All salts illustrated are in numerical sequence except those marked in
the text “Not shown.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XIV]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. American eagle, nine stars, colonial column at corners, vine at
top, ends with tree in full bloom. N. E. G.
2. Side-basket of fruit, ends—wild rose, bottom—marked New England
Glass Company, Boston.
3. Diamond waffle design, colonial column at ends, scallop above, star
bottom. N. E. G.
4. Diamond waffle design, irregular wavy sides, vine above, hob nail
in diamond on bottom. N. E. G.
5. Large diamond waffle star on coarse stipple background, flaring
sides. N. E. G.
6. Grill work with large heart on side in diamond design, column at
ends. N. E. G.
7. Portrait of Lafayette on side of salt, Washington on other—very
rare. N. E. G.
Not shown.
8. Boat shaped salt, side wheel marked Lafayette with star, stern
marked B & S Glass Company.
9. Same in blue glass with opalescent tinge marked Sandwich on bottom.
A fine specimen piece to own.
Not shown.
10. The Chariot race, clear white glass, very rare, ends reptile in
medallion, bottom—scroll with six five pointed stars, very rare.
A—Same in opaque light blue glass, exceedingly rare.
11. Eight sided flaring salt, earliest period, fine stippled
background with rose, fleur de lis and beautifully designed
American eagle on bottom. The eagle is in flight with olive
branch in one claw three arrows in the other and a shield on its
breast. The author considers this one of the rarest Sandwich
salts ever found. It is like a bit of old lace.
12. Round with three alternate Cadmus ships and eagles—rare.
13. Four large eagles with feet on balls forming sides and base of
salt, two curled surface from beaks of eagles forming top of
salt, large shield on each side below—very rare.
14. Presentation salt, unusually large, early type, on ornamental base
with scroll bracket feet, shielded ends with two eagles’ heads,
marked Providence on bottom. A—Same in blue glass with oak leaf
on bottom, all types of this salt are very rare. They were a
special order at the Sandwich works and very few have been
found. We know of only one specimen in the deep blue.
Very rare.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XV]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Four letter S scrolls forming sides and base, basket of fruit on
stippled ground.
A—Opalescent slightly opaque stippled ground.
16. Two letter S scrolls forming ends and feet, horns of plenty with
two stars above, lyre on stippled ground of side, two inverted
horns of plenty below.
17. Oval salt deeply scalloped edges, four horns of plenty on stippled
ground, star bottom, early period, very delicate.
A—Same opalescent—rare.
B—Same purple—very rare.
18. Circular on collar base, four medallions in stippled ground, four
mold piece, antimony tint.
19. Six sided gothic with deep points, stars in points—later mold but
very lacy.
20. Simulated carriage on four wheels, stippled, scrolled ends, star
and diamond on side.
21. Deeply cut out top and scroll foot beautiful rope and panels at
end, unusual bottom.
22. Typical early period—oblong—molded foot and medallion and diamond
top.
A—Same in transparent jade—green very rare.
23. Oblong, eight sided, hearts at corners—round applied foot.
A—Same, sides unstippled and without feet.
24. Very early heavily scrolled, wavy top and ornamental base, four
prominent oak leaf scrolls.
A—Same in deep amber very rare. The dark amber in American glass
was at this early period a “mistake” in manufacture. It was
caused by a piece of paper getting into the mould which in
contact with hot glass charred at once giving a beautiful amber
color.
25. Basket of fruit on sides with scrolled ends terminating in leaves,
two rosettes on side, leaves and drilled scrolls on feet—bottom
with 11 crossed bars—a very popular design at the works—first
period—
A—Opalescent.
B—Green.
C—Blue.
To meet the demand this design was a frequent repeat so that fine
specimens in color and pairs are not uncommon.
26. Diamond all-over design with deeply scalloped edge with row of
dots. Unusual base with claw feet and scalloped apron. This
ground work has a pattern of N. E. G. and is rare in this form
of Sandwich.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XVI]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
27. Sleigh shape, very shallow, grilled convex base, rope ends, green
tinge.
28. Same except sleigh on runners.
Not shown.
29. Scrolled ends and feet, crown with feathers and star on side, band
of stippling below crown.
30. Petalled and looped clear glass on standard six petals-period
1850. This must not be confused with the heavy late salts in
this pattern.
31. Chicken salts period 1860. A tiny glass chicken with ball in beak,
the back hollowed out to form the salt, receptacle white glass.
Not shown.
A—Vaselene yellow.
B—Blue.
C—Clear white.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_VICTORIAN ANIMALS_
For the West Mustard Company about 1870 the Sandwich works made a number
of designs consisting of chickens and other animals on nests of semi
opaque white glass. Many of these had glass eyes and the less common
ones found to-day are in colors, a remarkable blue predominating. These
were filled with their products, labeled with a red and orange label and
sold to the public destined later to become useful receptacles. Many
collectors of these objects confuse the marbled glass which comes in
mauve and white and ocre and white in many designs similar to the above
with the Sandwich of this late period. This marbled glass in Whieldon
effects was made at Phoenixville, Pa., and may be put in the same class
as the advertising of the West Mustard Co. During this last period of
the Sandwich Glass Works their products became cheapened to meet the
demand of commercial advertising and an endless number of cheap glass
premiums were sent out to all parts of the country in the era just
preceding the soap wrapper and the patent medicine man.
An interesting bit of information in regard to the opalescent edges
often found on pieces of Victorian glass is that this opalescence was
produced by re-heating the edges to a dull red heat after it was molded.
The pattern for the opaque glass chickens was inspired by the early
Staffordshire hens. This has led many to believe that the former were
made in England but they are decidedly a late Sandwich product made of
the same composition as many of the lamps and candlesticks. The author
has found nests bearing the original orange and red labels of the West
Mustard Company.
1. Opaque white chickens large and small.
2. Opaque all blue chickens large and small.
3. Opaque blue and white roosters.
4. Pair opaque dark purple chickens.
5. Opaque white owl quite opalescent at edges.
6. Opaque blue and white cats.
7. Opaque blue and white dogs.
8. Opaque white squirrel.
9. Opaque white rabbit.
10. Opaque white duck.
11. Baskets in blue and white.
12. Chickens in clear white, transparent blue and amber glass—rare.
In this group are steamboats, sleighs, Uncle Sam, and various political
objects, all of which are uninteresting and not worthy of collection.
Little glass bears were made for a concern promoting bear ointment.
Heads of these jars have been dug up at the Sandwich works. Complete
ones are hard to find.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CANDLESTICKS
_HOW TO TELL OLD STICKS FROM NEW_
1. Genuine old glass candlesticks were always molded in two sections and
fused together. This fusing section varies from one-sixteenth to
one-quarter inch in thickness and is irregular on different sides of the
same stick. This is an absolute test and never fails.
2. If you will examine the mold seams along the side of the stick you
will find that where the sections are joined the perpendicular line is
not continuous. The seam may be in line on one side but turn the stick
and you will find the rule holds good. This is because in fusing the
parts by hand they were slightly rotated and it was impossible to keep
the mold seams in a straight line. Also the old hand carved molds varied
slightly in size so that no two tops and bottoms were exactly alike. The
modern glass candlestick is molded in one section released from machine
made molds and the side line is continuous from top to bottom. This test
should be applied to all the colored glass sticks of the hollow base
type that are appearing. The earlier sticks with scarred bases have not
been imitated except in shapes never found in old glass. Reproductions
of blown glass will be taken up by the author in another book.
3. The collector of American glassware finds a very handsome type of
candlestick with blown bobèche top and molded base. It is safe to say
that these tops were imported from England for use at the Sandwich
works. They are only found on the most expensive sticks of the period,
and are identical with English candlesticks of the same time, except for
the typical Sandwich pedestal and base, fused to the blown bobèche. We
know that elaborate lamp bowls were imported and combined with Sandwich
glass bases and later joined with brass standards to marble bases, thus
it is safe to assume that many of the elaborate candlesticks are in part
of similar origin.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XVII]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_CANDLESTICKS_
1. Period 1830. Petal top, loop base, scarred bottom, earliest type.
Clear White
Opaque White
Pale Lavender
Combination Blue and White
Purple
Blue
Green
Vaselene Yellow
Peacock
Opalescent
Dark Amber—very rare
A. Plain top looped base.
B. Petal top, plain hollow, six sided molded base, period 1850.
C. Petal top, round base.
2. Plain top and base varying heights, and colors. This is the commonest
type and one that must be most carefully examined by collectors as being
most liable to reproduction.
3. Colonial Column, generally found in opalescent glass, period 1859.
A. Opaque two color sticks, blue and white, jade green and white.
4. Blown bobèche top, fused to early pontilled base in steps.
A. Various later bases and tops cut and etched.
B. Opaque white glass sticks.
Vases were made in many colors of glass at the Sandwich works with bases
corresponding to the whale oil lamps. The output was not large as the
demand for ornaments at this time was not as great as for practical
commodities. See illustration in upper right hand corner.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XVIII]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_THE DOLPHIN GROUP_
The Dolphin Candlesticks are found in seven distinct types. The single
base usually has two scars near the hollow base of the Dolphin showing
the earliest form of ejection from the mold, a kind of modified pontil.
The single base Dolphins while not as delicate in modelling and design
are decidedly earlier and much rarer than the double base. The head of
the Dolphin is hollow for a greater distance than in the double base
sticks showing that these earlier forms were blown into the molds before
the stamp machine was in common use. There is also a sunken bobash of
glass not found in the double base types.
Type 6 and 7 is mentioned by the author with reluctance as it is of
Victorian origin. The little pentagonal base stick type 5 is dainty and
well molded but the bell shaped Dolphin is ornate and of less value to
collectors. The dishes on Dolphin standards with opalescent edges are of
this period also and mentioned only to make this work complete.
Type 1. single base 1840
a. Clear white.
b. Vaselene yellow slightly cloudy—rare.
c. Opalescent.
Type 2. single base embossed 1845
a. Clear white ornamented with small Dolphins and shells in
relief.
Type 3. double base 1850
a. Clear White.
b. Opalescent white.
c. Opalescent blue top opalescent white Dolphin base.
d. Clear blue.
e. Clear green very rare.
f. Clear purple very rare.
g. Vaselene yellow.
h. Opaque blue.
Type 4. round base 1859
a. Clear white.
b. Clear white with heart in tail of Dolphin.
Type 5. Pentagon base small stick.
a. White.
b. Yellow.
c. Blue.
Type 6. Bell shaped base small Dolphin ornamented with shells. 1860
a. Clear white with opalescent top.
b. Blue green with opalescent top.
c. Vaselene yellow with opalescent top.
Type 7. Milk white opaque glass measurement eight inch small Dolphin on
round base with 16 scallops. 1875
Illustration 8 page 68 is a very remarkable clear white Dolphin dish on
standard. It measures 9 by 10½ inches. There is a full size Dolphin,
early type, with hollow head supporting a balanced shell. The piece is
unique.
Illustration No. 9 page 70 is so far as the author knows, the only lamp
which has been found with a single Dolphin base. It is of clear white
glass and is a beautiful piece.
A—Lamp supported by three Dolphins—late.
Illustration 10 page 68 is one of the later Dolphin dishes referred to
at the head of this group.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XIX]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_WHALE OIL LAMPS_
Period of 1850
A burner was invented consisting of two tin tubes soldered to a brass or
pewter screw cap. This took the place of the single tube of the earlier
lamps and gave a double flame. It was adaptable to use in lamps of
ornamental glass and the enterprising Sandwich factory at once started
the manufacture of pressed glass lamps to meet the demand.
The earliest type was in clear glass. Later more elaborate and costly
forms were introduced and a blown receptacle for the oil fused to a
molded base often had a beautiful blown center section. The patterns in
these old lamps are endless. Etched and cut tops were imported and fused
to Sandwich bases at the factory. The Victorian era brought in a demand
for two color combinations and opaque glass lamps. We stop at the
introduction of marble bases as they are very much later and the bowls
for many of these lamps were foreign. No attempt has been made to
illustrate all specimens, a few of the more decorative being chosen.
With the early lamps no shade was used and the flickering flame of the
spirit tubes gave little better light than candles but it saved the
housewife the endless dipping and molding. The wick had to be constantly
picked through the small opening at the side of the burner as it burned
down. The fluid used was camphine. This is proof alone that no shade was
used. The glass shades came into use with the “boudoir burner” which
took a flat wick through a round opening patented by E. M. & Company in
1865. At this time people fitted the earlier lamp with these burners and
substituted a new fluid for the earlier whale oil and camphine. We
illustrate a very rare lamp of clear white glass with Dolphin standard
in the Dolphin group.
Type 1. New England Glass Works, blown top, molded four sided base
column at end, baskets of fruit on each side, lions’ heads at
corners, a very early and rare lamp.
Type 2. Fluted overlaid molded howl, four sided base with two steps
with fluted Colonial Column joining base and bowl. Colors
similar to Type 6.
Type 3. Shows a lamp of rare design. The quality of the glass in the
fragile scrolled base with lion’s claw feet is very early, and
the frosted blown bowl of great delicacy. Lamps are seldom found
of this type which closely resembles the flatware of the first
period.
Type 4. Was a costlier product. It was fused in three parts and
included a bulbous blown center section and cutting was often
introduced on the bowl.
Type 5. The most popular inexpensive lamp of the period was a molded
lamp in various designs, clear glass hearts, lyres, diamonds,
bulls eye, and hob nail patterns appealing to the public. The
molds were heavily grouved and fine stippling was avoided
because this caused greater tendency to breakage which was
undesirable in anything containing inflammable material.
Type 6. Fluted over laid molded bowl, six sided base, clear white.
a. Blue.
b. Green.
c. Purple.
d. Vaselene.
e. Opalescent white.
f. Opalescent blue top, white base.
g. Opalescent jade green top, white base.
h. All jade green, very rare.
i. Opalescent white top, blue base.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XX]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_FLAT WARE OF THE EARLY PERIOD_
1835-1849
The author believes there were made during the first period many large
dishes for table use to match the cup plates. These are necessarily rare
as such objects were more expensive and more liable to breakage. To
illustrate we have given specimens the additional designation of C when
there is a cup plate of corresponding design and have affixed the
measurements. The following dishes are rare and have in every instance
been collected by the author from their original sources.
1. Washington, 6 inch plate—C—inscription. “George Washington” spelled
backwards.
A. Same without head medallion center—See No. 13.
2. Heart border plate, N. E. G., 7 inch—C.
A. Compote on stand.
Not illustrated.
3. Oblong dish with large lyres in four comers 9 inches—C.
4. Heart border, deep dish, N. E. G., 7½ inches—C.
5. Octagon dish, large American eagle and 13 stars in center—6
inch—rare—C.
A. 8 inch dish same—rare.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XXI]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Octagon dish, 9 inch, bee hives in conventional center design with
bees, often called “strawberry pattern” but upon examination the
bees and bee hives are very distinct. This plate, 10 inch, was
very popular and since the furor for collecting pressed glass
numbers have come to light. It represents very beautiful
designing and was in all likelihood sold as a cake plate. There
are four large stars with four thistles around the bee hives in
the center design.
7. Octagon dish, 7 inch, C, with the ship “Constitution” in the center
and the word “Union” below, typifying a union sentiment against
the junking of “old ironsides.” One of the rarest pieces of
early Sandwich glass in existence.
8. Octagon Dish, 7 inch, C, Pennsylvania Steamboat in center.
Companion piece to No. 7, very rare.
All the above large dishes match cup plates and must have been made for
the most fastidious housewives of the period with that particular object
in view.
9. Round plate, 8 inch, peacock feather border, three thistles and
beautifully feathered scrolls in center.
10. Round deep dish, 8 inch, border of scrolls and twelve thistles.
Center twenty rope circles with six pointed flowers two thistles
on back ground and fine stippling.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XXII]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Compote on standard with waterfall base—7½ inch, very rare. A. Top
view of same piece.
12. Deep dish, oval, grouved corners, 6 x 8, very rare. All-over
design of great delicacy. I consider this dish, which is one of
a pair, made for a special order in 1839, one of the finest
specimens ever produced in Sandwich glass. The detail of design
is marvelous and the shape necessitated an eight grouved mold.
13, 14C, 15, 16C are 6 inch plates two of which have cup plates to
match.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XXIII]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
17, 18, 19, 20 are 6½ inch deep dishes. 20 being the sun flower design
familiar in cup plates.
21, 22 are tray shaped dishes of great brilliancy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XXIV]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
23, 24, 25, 26 are sauce dishes, period 1839.
27. Harp and grape center and 28, grape border, conventional center,
are Toddy glass plates mentioned as a type of large cup plate
and very much sought after by collectors.
A. The grape eagle, blue, in this size is very rare.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XXV]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
29. Presentation piece, Crown above, three feathers and motto—“Ich
Dien.”—This is the badge on the Coat of Arms of the Prince of
Wales and was made at the time of the visit of the late Edward
VII to the U. S. in 1860.
30. Presentation piece, Gladstone, “For the Million” Imitation of
English pressing. Made for the Canadian market.
31. Early Sandwich creamer rare.
A. Opalescent.
32. Covered sweet meat jar or sugar bowl, eight sided. Gothic
treatment.
A. Blue.
B. Purple.
C. Opalescent.
33. Eight sided Jam dish, 5 inch, rose and thistle clear inset in
corners. Rose and thistle in panels of border and is beautifully
carried out in the center.
34. Jam dish, 4½ inch, deeply fluted.
A great number of 4 inch plates were made and these are becoming very
popular with collectors. These may have been “toddy plates” a large cup
plate made for use with flips as many in the author’s collection bear
signs of frictional wear.
Small slightly concave dishes resembling cup plates were made for “best
jam” or honey. The patterns in these dishes were not in the finest
designs. They were too small to be popular and larger sauce dishes were
first made at the works about 1839. The covered sweet meat jars later
used for sugar were rare (see illustration) and a really early Sandwich
cream pitcher is the delight of the collector.
Sugar bowls and creamers were made in clear white, blue, opalescent, and
purple glass. Not many of the colored ones have survived hard usage and
the white many sided bowls with covers are getting very difficult to
find.
Little toy pieces were made at the works in the early period such as
covered tureens, tiny plates and platters, dolls’ cream pitchers, etc.
These are not illustrated as the detail is too fine to be of value.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration: PLATE XXVI]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_“PETALLED AND LOOPED” PATTERN CLEAR WHITE SANDWICH GLASS PERIOD 1830_
The author has a collection of nearly thirty pieces in this design, many
of the pieces being pontil marked. This pattern matched the candle
sticks of type 1.
Some few pieces have been found in this pattern in vaselene yellow and
purple. The secret of yellow glass was conveyed to the Sandwich factory
by a workman from Bristol, England. The process was too costly to admit
of the manufacture of many pieces in this color. Some lovely scent
bottles were made, lamps, vases and candle sticks and the author has a
pair of rare salts on standards. We refer of course to the earlier
pieces as Victorian yellow glass is found in abundance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_PRESENTATION PIECES_
For special occasions the Sandwich works got out dishes to be presented
as souvenirs. These show special designing and are exceedingly rare. We
illustrate a piece issued for the Prince of Wales’ visit to America.
Also a piece known to have been made at Sandwich in simulated English
design with words “Gladstone” and “For The Million,” thistle center.
The “Victoria” plate, 7 inch, shows the head of the young Queen—in size
like George Washington’s head in the Washington cup plate—with
“Victoria” above and with a beautifully stippled lace border of the
early period. An exquisite and rare plate.
Not illustrated.
No mention is made in this volume of the endless President Garfield,
railroad trains, puss in boots, and Venus designs whose name is Legion
and without whose presence the cabinet of the true collector will not
suffer, such pieces looking entirely out of place on the shelves with
early Sandwich.
As personalities are painful to the collector I have tried to refrain
from them in this volume, trusting that those who have something to add
or subtract from my text will do so in a kindly spirit. We as Americans
are too prone to make our collections general. We seek quantity rather
than quality and the author is a believer in elimination. The following
are a few suggestions for the amateur collector:
1. Don’t think you have the best collection until you have seen others.
2. Don’t think that money can buy the best specimens, courtesy and
patience can buy better.
3. In collecting old glass he who “hesitates” has lost it to his
neighbor.
4. Don’t believe all you hear—investigate.
5. Don’t collect EARLY “WOOLWORTH.”
6. Don’t let envy keep you from enjoying and studying another’s
collection.
7. Don’t tell everybody what you are looking for, a rival collector is
born every minute.
8. Don’t seek numbers of specimens, seek fine workmanship.
9. Don’t call everything that you cannot classify Canadian, English, or
Spanish. Comparison of specimens and time will change your opinion.
10. Don’t quote prices for by so doing the market is ruined for both
dealer and collector. The value is according to what you pay and
to-morrow you may obtain the same piece for more or less.
11. Don’t keep your glass in a dark cup-board done up in paper. Let
others enjoy the fruits of your labor.
12. Considering that everyone’s taste is not alike “an unfair exchange
is no robbery.”
13. Don’t say a thing is “very rare” or “very common” remembering that
what is rare in Pennsylvania may be common in Massachusetts. Most
antiques depend upon locality for their rarity and your opinion may be
very local.
14. Don’t subject old glass to very hot or very cold water in washing.
Early Sandwich is subject to atmospheric conditions. Sudden changes of
heat and cold will cause cracks.
15. Last and not least, don’t “hoard”; give the other collector a
chance. By exchange and sale of specimens you will improve your own
collection and if you help some one else to get what he wants it will
come back to you ten fold in unexpected moments. An old house, old glass
and old friends is a combination worth living for.
_The End._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLLECTOR’S DATA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDEX.
_Page_
Bunker Hill group, 22-24-25
Candlesticks, 66 to 69
Colored cup plates, 51
Composition, 14
Conventional cup plates, 42 to 51
Cup plates, 18 to 51
Dolphin group, 68-70 to 73
Don’ts, 95-96
Eagle group, 20 to 22
Flat ware, 78 to 90
Floral group, 40-41
Harrison group, 30-34-35
Heart series, 42 to 49
Henry Clay group, 28-30-31
History, 7 to 10
Log Cabin group, 34 to 36
Miscellaneous cup plates, 38 to 41
Molds, 12-13
Notes for Collectors, 15 to 17
Petalled and Looped glass, 92-93
Preface, 5
Presentation pieces, 88-89-94
Pressed glass, 11
Ringgold, 30-32
Salts, 53 to 63
Ship group, 24 to 29
Victorian animals, 62 to 65
Washington cup plate, 30-32
Washington six-inch plate, 78-79
Whale oil lamps, 74 to 77
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