For Sale Glass

One of the delights of having several vases in a collection of American Brilliant cut glass is the availability of a large number of sizes and, more importantly, a large number of shapes!  Shape ‘rules’ and varies from the predictable to the ‘where-did-that-come-from?’

This vase stands 15 1/2-inches tall, has a 7-inch, bowl-like top and weighs 4-lbs. 4-oz.  The 1/2-inch thick blank is clear and colorless.   The eight notched flutes have clear areas that are wide enough to produce a prismatic effect the length of the hollow stem.  We know that page DRE-70 of LABAC’s ‘Cut Glass Advertisements Book 1’  shows a Dorflinger 1896 trade ad with a large vase of this same shape.  We know that Dorflinger sold the blanks to other cutting houses — and we know that the design cut on this vase is not shown in any currently known Dorflinger book or catalog.  It is difficult to capture the true quality of this vase in photos.

A different-shaped vase for your collection that distinguishes itself from those that are ‘ordinary.’  The piece is in better than extremely fine condition and has no internal cloudiness or discoloration.  Enjoy!

This rare-shaped vase is best described as a ‘center bulge’ vase.  It is — at this time — not identified.  To us, the shape suggests a Maple City design and the cutting has some characteristics of the designs of T.G. Hawkes & Co.  Regardless, it is a tall and impressive piece of American Brilliant cut glass.

The vase stands 17 1/2-inches tall, has a top and bottom diameter of 6-inches and a ‘center bulge’ diameter of 5 1/4-inches.  The design is deeply-cut and well-polished on a fine, clear blank that weighs 10.4-lbs.   The piece is in better than extremely fine condition.

This 9 1/4-inch diameter ‘sandwich’ plate stands 3/4-inches tall at the rim; it sits on a 1/8-inch tall wafer base with a notched edge.  The center of the plate has a very realistic cluster of grapes; the 2-inch wide rim has a chain of six 8-petal flowers with flashed edges, vines, leaves and ‘berries.’  It is a very well-crafted plate, has an appealing design and a clear, water-white blank.  The piece does fluoresce properly for an American Brilliant Period blank.  It is, of course, unsigned.  If you can identify the design and/or cutting house, we would greatly appreciate your effort.   The piece is in better than extremely fine condition.

L. Straus & Sons of New York, NY was one our finest cutting houses during the American Brilliant Period (1875-1915).  They are known for the quality of their blanks, their well-conceived designs and their attractive and unusual shapes.  We are offering, from our personal collection, a double-gooseneck decanter with matching sterling silver stopper.

The decanter stands 12-inches tall with the stopper and has a maximum diameter of 6-inches; the sterling stopper has a trademark that appears to be that of the Mauser Manufacturing Co. of New York, NY.  The decanter is cut in the “Kenilworth” design; the second ACGA Straus catalog shows the design in two 1901 trade ads.  The decanter has no internal discoloration or residue and is in better than extremely fine condition.

When viewed from some angles, these clarets appear to be a beautiful, soft green color whose intensity of color increases as the glass thickness increases.  When you look straight into the bowl, the various miter cuts appear to charge from an intense green color to clear.  The foot also can appear either an intense green color or clear.  In fact, both the foot and the bowl are clear glass.  It is a most unusual occurrence and we offer no explanation.  Please let us know if you have knowledge regarding this phenomenon.

The clarets are 4 7/8-inches tall and have a top diameter of 2 3/4-inches.  They are beautifully cut, wheel-polished and have a soft, silky feel when handled; the base has a 16-point radiant star.  The quality of these stems is very high and the cutting — though apparently simple — was very difficult to effect.  It is very difficult to determine whether the ‘chameleon-like’ optical effect was planned or ‘just happened.’  Regardless, these clarets are simply elegant!
There is a very small chip on one of the top rims; otherwise, the clarets are in perfect condition.

We have a set of four priced at $400 for the set.
The single carets are priced at $100/each.

This outstanding punchbowl was cut by J.D. Bergen Co. of Meriden, CT in their “Columbia” design; the “Columbia” design is shown on several pages of the 1893 Bergen catalog (an ACGA reprint).  Early Bergen pieces are among the very best glass produced during the American Brilliant Period.  Their blanks were of the best metal, the cutting was precise and entirely wheel-polished.  The curved tusks used in the “Columbia” design are highly favored by knowledgeable collectors.  We have never seen a ‘bad’ piece of “Columbia.”

The punchbowl is 12-inches in diameter, stands 4 3/4-inches tall and weighs 9 1/4-lbs.   It is heavy for its size and has the soft, silky feel of ‘old glass.’   It is in better than extremely fine condition.

The photos do not do the piece justice!  A great introduction to ‘tusks,’ one of the most difficult motifs to cut.

Page 28 of the 1906-07 C.F. Monroe reprint catalog shows this exact piece.  It is labeled  No.111 compote Tempt.  The compote has an 8-inch diameter, stands 11-inches tall and is well-cut on a thick, clear blank that weighs 5.7-lbs.  The bottom has a 24-point hobstar.  The stem has a huge air bubble and features a series of punties that create a prismatic effect.  The piece is in extremely fine condition.

This is the finest ice tub and plate we have ever offered.  It is a product of T.B. Clark & Co. of Honesdale, PA and is cut in their “Yolande” design.  Both the design and the shape are shown in Clark’s 1901 Summer and Fall catalog (an ACGA reprint).   The best-metal blank is a delight to behold — very clear and absolutely colorless; it is undoubtedly from Dorflinger & Sons located in nearby White Mills, PA.  The beauty of the blank is enhanced by the clear, uncut triangle areas in the design and by the deep, major miters that are completely wheel-polished to a mirror-like brilliance.  The eye-appealing shape of the set is enhanced by the extra wide rim of the underplate and its deep well for the ice tub.  The extra width of the rim allows the entire design to be displayed as it is on the ice tub itself.  Usually underplates display only part of the total design of a piece.

The ice tub stands 5 1/2-inches tall and has a top diameter of 5 3/4-inches; the underplate is 8 1/2-inches in diameter and stands 1 3/8-inches tall.  Both the ice tub and the underplate have the same 3 1/2-inch diameter, 20-point hobstars on the base.  The set stands 6-inches tall when assembled and weighs 5 1/2-lbs.   The double-notched handles are perfectly attached.   Both pieces are in better than extremely fine condition as defined on our website.

A carefully selected piece of American Brilliant cut glass that we have enjoyed in our personal collection for several years.

The cut-all-over design is ideal for the tall, slender shape of this 14-inch tall vase.  The cutting is quite deep, sharp to the touch and very well-polished.  The blank is clear, water-white and weighs 5 1/4-lbs.  This is definitely a premium piece of American Brilliant Cut Glass.  The maximum diameter of the vase is 5-inches; the base has a 3 1/2-inch diameter and a very unique hobstar. The condition is better than extremely fine with no internal residue or discoloration.

This fine vase has been in our collection for over ten years and is still unidentified as to design name or cutting house.  Please let us know if you can identify the pattern.  Enjoy!

Dorflinger & Sons of White Mills, PA cut this stately one-piece punchbowl in their “Marlboro” design.  The design is precisely-cut and completely wheel-polished on Dorflinger’s best-metal blank.  Dorflinger produced some of the best blanks of the American Brilliant Period — they are clear and colorless.

The bowl is 14-inches in diameter, 7-inches tall and weighs 15 3/4-lbs.   The base has a hobstar with alternating-length points; it is a 22-point hobstar — one of very few that we have ever viewed.  The piece displays to great advantage and is ideal for the center of a table or sideboard.  It is in better than extremely fine condition.   Enjoy!

Page 225, fig. D-85 in Feller’s book on Dorflinger shows this exact piece.  It is labeled “Miniature three-handled loving cup, possibly used for toothpicks, colorless glass cut in pattern “No.20,” with a fine hobstar cut on the bottom, White Mills, about 1905.”  Unfortunately, the design is not Dorflinger’s “No.20” as shown in Feller’s book or in ACGA Dorflinger reprint catalogs.  Regardless, this is a fine miniature that stands 2 3/4-inches tall and has a top diameter of 2-inches; the blank is of Dorflinger quality.  The cutting is well-done and entirely wheel-polished; the base hobstar has 12-points.  A delightful piece that is in better than extremely fine condition and displays to advantage.

T.B. Clark & Co. of Honesdale, PA cut this very fine and very old ice tub and plate some time after 1886.  Pearson (Vol.III, pg. 180) says, “The “Strawberry Diamond and Star” pattern, patented June 1, 1886, #16720 was designed by Walter A. Wood of Honesdale, PA and assigned to T.B. Clark & Co.”  Pearson rated the design 4 for rarity (rare) and 2 for quality/price range (one of the most desirable).

We favor ‘old glass’ of this sort because of 1) the clear, colorless blank, 2) the precise cutting of the design, 3) the wood-wheel finish with its soft, silky feel (as opposed to the later acid-finishing), 4) the pattern-cut handle, 5) the miters forming the upper fans that are cut through the bottom of the teeth and 6) details like the varied-length tips on the 32-point hobstar on the plate.

The ice tub stands 6-inches tall and has a top diameter of 5 1/2-inches; it measures 8-inches handle-to-handle.  The plate is 7 1/4-inches in diameter and just over 1-inch tall.  Both pieces are in better than extremely fine condition.

A beautiful and well-crafted piece that typifies ‘old glass’ at its very best.  Ice tubs with matching underplates are very difficult to acquire.