Posts Tagged ‘glass’

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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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Two glass beakers, c.1890

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Both of these blown glass laboratory beakers have etched calibrations as well as similarly repaired bases. These were most likely repaired by chemists in their own labs by filling a discarded tin lid with plaster and submerging the broken beaker. The left beaker is 4.5 inches tall, and the beaker on the right is 3.25 inches tall.

Not the most elegant repair job but an efficient way to quickly resolve a mishap, making the beakers usable again in about 30 minutes.

This pair remained unharmed and still have their original glass bases.

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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Bohemian glass vase, c.1910

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

An Edwardian era vase made of ruby color flashed glass, originally a larger vase, now stands just 5-1/4″ high.

The original glass base was replaced with a painted paper homemade base weighted with plaster.

This is what the intact vase might have looked like, before it dropped.

Photo courtesy of Southern Antique Centre

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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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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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Mercury glass candle holders, c.1860

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Pair of candle holders with mercury-filled double-walled glass and cold painted with white enamel floral decoration. Mercury glass was first patented in 1849 in England, where it was often referred to as “poor man’s silver”.

I have never seen another example of mercury glass with an inventive repair. Someone did a fine repair job outfitting these broken candle holders, each measuring 6-3/4″ high, with silver painted wood bases.

The pair of bases are nicely painted, even on the bottoms.

Intact bases are shown below on this similar pair of 19th century French candlesticks.

Photo courtesy of Foret

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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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