Posts Tagged ‘American’

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Brilliant cut glass goblet, c.1880

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

American cut glass was first produced in 1771 by the American Flint Glass Manufactory in Manheim, PA. The heyday of brilliant cut glass in America was in the 1880’s, after the public viewed the latest designs on display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.

Every facet of this 7-1/4″ tall wine glass has been cut by hand.

The painted wooden base with a whimsical stepped design, is a replacement created sometime in the early 1900’s.

Before the goblet broke in to two pieces, it would have had a faceted glass base, as shown here.

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Cast iron clothes iron, c.1900

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Every household in America had one. Many, such as this one, have a replaced handle. Some irons were just too heavy to support a lighter handle and many snapped off after years of constant use. Currently this iron is being used as a doorstop in my office and I almost forgot to include it in my blog. It is one of a select few “inventive repairs” that I am using in my home for a purpose other than what it was originally intended for.

Faint remains of the original handle are visible on either side of the replaced handle.

This lucky survivor still has its original handle.

Photo courtesy of WorthPoint

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Edwardian pressed glass vase, c.1910

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Those who could not afford to purchase hand cut glass items bought less expensive substitutes made of pressed glass.

This 10-1/2″ tall vase has a home made replaced base made from cement and painted gold to add a touch of “elegance”.

Here is the same vase with its original pressed glass base.

Photo courtesy of eBay

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Sandwich glass oil lamp, c.1840

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

This “Sweetheart” pattern whale oil lamp was made by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Co., Cape Cod Glassworks, and by other manufacturers in and around the town of Sandwich, Massachusetts. I have come across dozens of oil lamps with inventive repairs, as they were used daily, often moved, and frequently broke.

The conical tin base, made by a tinsmith, replaced the original glass base and has been filled with weights to ensure the lamp does not fall over and break again. Lamp stands 9-1/4″ high.

This is what the complete lamp looks like with its original, more ornate base intact.

Photo courtesy of Pavilion Gallery

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This is NOT a “make-do!”

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

I was thrilled when I stumbled upon this late 1800’s stoneware “bean pot type pitcher” as described to me by a Maine antiques dealer. The only problem is that after I purchased it, I discovered it had never been repaired, thus not a make-do.

The handle and straps are original to the pot and I was fooled! I am sure that the dealer thought it was authentic and did not mean to deceive me. Rather than return the piece, I am keeping it as cautionary reminder to thoroughly examine each piece before purchasing

What I ultimately found stamped on the lower band: “PAT. JUNE 27 1876, M. SCHIFFER, ST LOUIS MO”

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Pressed glass “Liberty Bell” goblet, c.1876

Monday, March 15th, 2010

This pressed glass goblet was made by Gillinder & Co. for the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 as a commemorative souvenir. It is embossed with the Liberty Bell on one side and and printed “Declaration of Independence, 100 Years Ago, 1776-1876” on the other side.

Goblet measures 7-3/4″ high.

After the glass was most likely dropped and the original glass base shattered, a refined turned mahogany wood replacement base was attached.

This complete identical goblet shows what the glass base looked like.

Photo courtesy of Ruby Lane

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Stoneware bean pot, c.1880

Monday, March 15th, 2010

American brown glazed stoneware bean pot with lid, measures 5-1/2″ high and is 8-1/2″ wide from handle to handle.

A mismatched lid from another piece has been “married” to this pot.

The lid has an incised number “2” on the top right edge.

This was most likely made in Ohio or Pennsylvania in the late 1800’s.

When the single applied stoneware handle broke off, twin metal handles and straps were attached to “improve” upon the original design. The small, lightweight handles are out scale with the heavy pot and have become misshapen from use.

A metal support strap around the top has a bolt and nut to insure a tight fit.

This pot still has its original single handle.

Photo courtesy of Cyber Attic

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Milk glass hen pin cushion, c.1890

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Almost every home in America had a version of a molded glass hen on a nest covered dish. But most homes did not have this clever “make-do” pin cushion, made from just a broken lid. I assume the intact bottom half was reused as a dish, but the top half remains were encased in fabric and cotton batting, crocheted with red “feathers” around the neck and transformed in to a practical pin cushion.

Pin cushion hen measures 4-1/4″ high.

The mother hen pin cushion began life looking something like this.

Photo courtesy of Cornerstone Collectibles

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American whale oil lamp, c.1830

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

A free blown clear glass whale oil lamp, made in America in the early 1800’s, measures 7-1/2″ high.

As lamps were used daily, it is not unusual to see examples with replacement bases, such as this simple one made of wood.

This similar oil lamp still has its original elaborately molded base.

Photo courtesy of Comollo Antiques

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Ripley double finger oil lamp, c.1868

Friday, March 12th, 2010

There are many variations of this double finger oil lamp, made of pressed glass by Ripley & Company in Pittsburgh, PA. This 8″ high lamp has a lovely yellow patina in the oil reservoir from many years of use.

It was not uncommon for oil lamps to snap off at the base. As a result, I have come across many examples over the years with a variety of wood and metal replacement bases.

This wood replacement base was carved in a curious manner.

“Ripley & Co. Patd Jan 7, June 14, Aug 11, 1868” is marked on bottom of the intact base of this lamp.

Photo courtesy of eCRATER

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