Lynn’s eBay Ezine Volume III, Issue Number 29

‘EAPG – simply Early American Pattern Glass‘

by Elaine Henderson, PatternGlass.com

We have a guest columnist this week. I am glad to introduce Elaine Henderson of PatternGlass.com, a friend and expert who has consulted on my books. She will be sharing her expertise in Early American Pattern Glass with us this week and next.

-Lynn

A cursory look at the auction items offered in the section of eBay at Pottery & Glass > Glass > Glassware > Early American Pattern Glass, could leave a person slightly bewildered. You have to wonder why some choose that section which is designated specifically for 19th century American pressed glass to list their item, especially when their auction item is glass made in the mid 20th century or even pottery or china!

One explanation may be date-related. The term “early” is subjective. “Early” to many, means “before I was born” or certainly before my parents were born. Another is that Early American Pattern Glass, or EAPG, is simply a widely misunderstood catch-all term that is interpreted as “glass I want to sell.”

Another point of confusion is that this glass with a very narrow definition is known by so many terms. The two most obvious are Early American Pattern Glass and EAPG, but it is also referred to in the literature and in current vernacular as ‘pressed glass’, ‘pattern glass’, ‘old glass’, ‘Civil War glass’, ‘Victorian glass’, and even Early American Pressed Glass. We are going to attempt to unravel the mystery here.

The definition of EAPG is, in its simplest form: glass dishes pressed into a mold, in America, between 1850 and 1910, mostly in sets, such that all the pieces of the set match in design.

“Wait!” you’re saying. I have a collection of Bird & Strawberry patterns that were made in 1915! Right. You’ve just identified one of the conundrums of EAPG. A few glass companies made patterns that were so popular that they continued making them after 1910 and some glass companies, notably Indiana Glass Co., Indiana Dunkirk & Kokomo Jenkins, introduced a few patterns that had that “Victorian” aura for a few years after 1910.

“Wait!” you’re saying. I have some glass that was pressed in America before 1850! Right. Another conundrum… there was glass pressed in America before 1850. But mostly those pieces were salt dips, curtain tiebacks, candlesticks, dresser knobs, and a few other items…. not what is thought of as “kitchen dishes”….but they are sometimes cast into the net of EAPG anyway. No one ever said that the antique world is rigid. Or easy.

For the record, a body of collectibles needs to have somewhere to begin and end and for simplicity for EAPG, most have chosen 1850 -1910, the Victorian era.

And so, EAPG does have a date definition, even if it is a little elastic.

One helpful way to look at EAPG is to divide the 60 (or so) years it was made into four Periods or Ages.

The Age of Lacy Glass 1825-1845

Lacy is a general term evolved by collectors to describe the earliest type of pressed glass produced in the US. “Lacy” refers to the look of these early patterns’ scrolls & geometric designs against a finely stippled background, which gives the glass the look of fine lace.

This glass was early referred to as “sandwich glass” after the Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. of Sandwich, MA which produced a great deal of this ware. Today, it is realized that many other factories on the East Coast & in the Pittsburgh, PA and Wheeling, West VA areas also made lacy-looking glass. The first pieces made were drawer pulls, cup plates, master salts, curtain tie backs and later there were perfume bottles, decanters & some dishes although they were not in sets yet. Lacy glass was rarely made in colors and most of that is now in museums. Lacy glass is always flint glass and if you own some, you have some American historical treasures.

You can learn more about Lacy Glass on our website here.

Colonial Age 1845-1865

Here ends the Lacy age and begins the Flint Glass age. From the late 1840’s to the Civil War, American pressed glass contained a high lead content and is known today as “flint Glass” or “lead glass”. Flint glass is heavy and exceptionally clear with a familiar ringing quality when gently tapped. During this period we see the emergence of glass dishes in recognizable and named patterns.

Each pattern might consist of simply goblets or other matching various-sized drinking vessels, whale oil lamps, celery vases, decanters, sugar bowls, spill holders, butter dishes & creamers, and even some bowls and pitchers were made in these early years.

The creamers & pitchers mostly had applied handles made by attaching a molten strap of glass onto a previously molded body. Applying this hot strap to the cooled body frequently resulted in the ‘stress fracture’ or ‘heat check’ at the attachment point so understandably common in these pieces. Later in this period, spooners and pomade or pickle jars were added to the forms made.

During the 1860’s, changes in the availability of elements, including lead, used in the formula for glass and necessitated in part by the Civil War, caused the dishes to take on different physical characteristics. They were lighter weight, less clear, and exhibited no bell tones. We now call this type of glass ‘non-flint’ glass or ‘soda glass’. With improved glass pressing machinery, mass production began, and matched tableware sets began to proliferate. A few glass companies, including Boston Sandwich, continued to make some of the higher-priced lead glass dishes up until the 1870’s.

Shown are flint pieces from L to R Diamond Thumbprint Spooner, Bullseye covered sugar, Ashburton creamer w/ applied handle.

Learn more about Flint Glass here.

The idea of a matched glassware table service quickly caught on in America. Many patterns had numerous accessory pieces among which were cruets and syrup pitchers. During this time, tall pieces such as high standard compotes and cake stands were made in 2 parts and had “wafer” connections. A small dab of molten glass was put between the top and the base which, when cooled, stuck the 2 pieces together although sometimes not totally on the same plane making the finished product a little tilty or even twisty.

Post Civil War (Reconstruction) Age 1865-1870’s

Now pressed pattern glass began to be made in larger quantities. The color was introduced and the patterns changed from being mostly geometric & ribbed styles to folksy naturalistic designs that reflected current trends in home fashions. The Centennial of America was celebrated in 1876 and many more glass patterns were introduced. Lots of stars were stylishly employed and commemorative objects were made that exhibited the pride Americans had in our Country.

Some glass dishes during this Age were “gussied up” by frosting by sandblasting, grinding, or chemical exposure; the copper wheel or stone wheel engraving; some acid etching and another colorless decor. It is interesting that many confuse the engraving and the etching processes on EAPG. In a nutshell, if the decoration is cut into the surface of the glass (you are able to feel the cut with your thumbnail) it is probably engraved.

Shown are engraved pieces from L to R:

Three Face goblet, Jumbo covered sugar, Grasshopper covered marmalade, and Crystal pattern Spooner.

If it is smooth to the touch, it is probably etched.

Shown are etched pieces from L to R:

Swirl Swan open compote, Pavonia tumbler, Bead & Scroll cruet.

By far, most EAPG is decorated by engraving with only a handful of patterns, such as Ohio and Pavonia being etched. A few etched patterns show scenes or tell a story such as Deer & Dog or Flamingo Habitat. Another popular colorless decoration was frosting,

Classic pattern water pitcher, U S Coin sauce dish, Royal Oak covered sugar.

Read much more about this decoration on glass here.

The Golden Age of Pressed Glass 1880-1910

By the 1880’s pattern glass was produced in great volume in hundreds of patterns, and colored glass came into vogue. The 1880’s was the Hey Day of Pattern Glass – color became King. Astronomical quantities were sold in dime stores, through catalogs such as Montgomery Wards and some were given away as premiums in soap, oatmeal, jelly, etc. by companies such as the Lee Mfg. Co. of Chicago.

The “Gay ’90’s” began with a severe nationwide economic depression, necessitating the closing of many smaller glass companies many of whom turned over their most valuable tangible assets, their molds, to larger conglomerates. The largest such combines were the US Glass Co. and the National Glass Co. This group strategy allowed the continued production of most patterns, although many were renamed and altered slightly in design when the molds changed hands.  As a marketing technique, the largest combine, U S Glass Co., began naming patterns after states of the Union, sometimes simply renaming old patterns & sometimes introducing new patterns named for a particular state.

Decorating pattern glass became even more popular during the 1890’s and we find cased, stained, flashed colored decor as well as the colorless embellishments that were also still being used.

Read much more about this form of decor here.

The ruby staining of souvenir glass was very popular during this time and emerald green colored glass was made for the first time in the ’90s.

Shown is an emerald green master berry set

in Leaf Medallion pattern.

The most common colors of EAPG made during this time include sapphire blue, amber, vaseline (canary), amethyst, and apple green.

Please note that EAPG was never originally made in light purple or lilac color. EAPG seen today in those colors has been purposefully turned by placing it in direct contact with sunlight UV rays for an extended period – months – or with UV rays from a germicidal lamp for a shorter period – weeks. To read more about this serious problem that has taken thousands of pieces of originally clear EAPG off the antique market, please go here.

The production of the States’ series continued into the first decade of the twentieth century, but by about 1910, the designs began to lose their Victorian flavor taking the look of the fancier cut glass. In fact, sometimes these patterns are now referred to as “Cut Glass Look-alikes.” Demand for Victorian pressed glass declined by 1915, and glass fanciers were collecting EAPG by the 1930’s.

And then there is the riddle of what glass is actually included in this family-friendly collectible field. We use the word “form” to designate different pieces of patterns – goblet, sugar bowl, mustard pot, etc.

We will hear more from Elaine next week on the different forms found in EAPG.

Happy eBaying,

Lynn

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