Blue Peacock Feather Toddy Plate, 1835-50

The production of glass objects was one of the first industries in the American Colonies. The first glasshouse was established in Jamestown, Virginia in the early 17th century. Its products were glass beads for trade, bottles and window glass. Although the Jamestown factory was short-lived, glass production became an established American industry by the mid-eighteenth century.
Until about 1825, two basic methods of glass production were in general use. Both of these methods originated in ancient Rome and the Middle East and had been in use for centuries. The most common and most technologically simple was hand blowing: individual objects were created, one by one, by a skilled craftsman using a blowpipe to manipulate a gather of molten glass. A more sophisticated method of production was mold blowing. Using this method, glass was partially or entirely blown in a mold which created the shape and the surface design of the glass object. The molds usually were made of iron or brass and often consisted of three pieces, but other configurations are known. Using this method, elaborately shaped and decorated objects such as pitchers, decanters, tumblers, plates, bowls and other hollow tablewares were formed. Factories creating these types of glass existed in the Eastern United States as far west as Ohio.
Some of these locales were also homes for glass factories which began to use the more efficient glass pressing machines developed in the 1820s. First used in eighteen century England and Holland, small-scale hand pressing had been used for salts, stoppers, or bases for blown goblets, etc. This method probably inspired the advances in glass technology which eventually led to the pressing of glassware that developed in the United States in the 1820s. The earliest known patent for mechanically pressing a glass object was granted to John Palmer Bakewell of Bakewell, Page and Bakewell of Pittsburgh. This was for an "improvement in making glass furniture knobs." This type of knob was probably the first widely produced and distributed piece of American pressed glass. However, the process was quickly extended to make other articles.
Glass pressing, while more efficient than blowing or mold blowing, was a process that caused the completed pressed object to appear cloudy and flawed. In an attempt to disguise these problems, molds were made with ornate designs. The pieces they created had fine stippled backgrounds with lace-like patterns. Similar styles of glass developed simultaneously in Europe and the United States and have been called lacy glass by collectors.
While the famed Boston and Sandwich Glass Company was one the the first and largest producers of lacy glass, this type was also manufactured in other factories in New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Midwest from about 1825 until 1850.
Most lacy glass is relatively small in size, although bowls 12 inches in diameter and larger are known. Some of the most common forms are cup plates (a kind of coaster for tea cups), salt dishes, small plates and bowls. Rarer pieces are creamers, large plates and bowls, toys, compotes, lamps and candlesticks with lacy bases, and panes of glass.
Unlike pattern glass, lacy glass table settings are unknown, although certain design elements are recognizable from form to form. The designs reflect the styles popular in other decorative arts of the period and lacy glass may be recognized as being gothic-revival, classical-revival, as well as geometric or historical in design.
Lacy glass from New England can sometimes be distinguished from lacy glass of Pittsburgh or Midwestern origin by looking for certain regional characteristics. Rims of lacy pieces produced in Pittsburgh often have "bull's eyes" as part of the scalloped edge. Tiny button feet may also found on the undersides of Pittsburgh dishes. New England made dishes and bowls to rest directly on their flat bottoms unsupported by tiny knob feet. Articles made in New England often exhibit finer stippling than those from Pittsburgh, which often show a cloth-like stippling.
As with pattern glass, lacy pressed glass has also been reproduced in this century. Sometimes tableware designs were merely inspired by earlier glass, sometimes museums reproduced examples from their collections, and sometimes pieces were created to deceive collectors of the nineteenth century glass. Probably the best method to distinguish an authentic piece from a reproduction would be by gently tapping the piece. Antique lacy glass was made with a lead formula which will cause a prolonged metallic ring when the piece is lightly struck. Novice collectors should avoid pieces that do not ring. Original lacy glass should also show signs of wear and will display a certain crudeness caused by the relatively primitive manufacturing methods. Be suspicious of lacy glass that appears too perfect.
This article was prepared with information from Collectors Guide to American Pressed Glass 1825-1915 by Kyle Husfloen and ABC's of Old Glass by Carl W. Drepperd. Other good books with illustrations of lacy glass are American Glass 1760-1930 by Kenneth Wilson; Glass in Early America, by Arlene Palmer and The Glass Industry in Sandwich by Raymond E. Barlow and Joan E. Kaiser.

Lacy Glass for Sale from Phyllis Petcoff

08167 Acorn Plate flint, 6" round, chipped rim $15.00 1840. Sandwich McKearin
<03016 Beehive & Thistle Plate lacy 9", minor rim roughness $175.00 1840, Sandwich Lee, Pl 136
05400 Beehive & Thistle Plate Flint Lacy, 9" octagon, few rim chips $175.00
07572 BS-3 Beaded Scroll & Basket of Flowers Salt, Open clear, $150.00 1835-45, Sandwich GV 2004
09175 Daisy variant plate flint, 5", base same, rim scrolled, rim chips $20.00 1840, Sandwich Lee, pl 130>
09176 Daisy variant plate flint, 5", base same, rim scrolled, rim chips $20.00 1840, Sandwich Lee, pl 130
05860 Daisy variant, Lacy Plate 3 7/8" flint, good condition $20.00 1830-45, New England Corning 81
05858 Diamond & Ball, Lacy Dish 4 1/8", flint, $6.00 1865, Union Glass Corning, p271
08363 Diamonds & Hairpins Bowl soda glass, rim chips, 7.75" $75.00 1835, Pittsburgh MacKearin, pl 144
<09177 English bouquet plate flint, 7" round, color staining, English? $65.00 1829-1836, Birmingham Corning, p360
04077 feather & flower Sauce 5.5", flint, lacy, chip on rim $24.00 1840-50, Sandwich
01503 Gothic Sugar Base flint, large foot chip $7.00 1840, Sandwich Lee: Sandwich Pl 158
01504 Gothic Sugar Base flint, rim chip $7.00 1840, Sandwich Lee: Sandwich Pl 158
09133 Gothic (lacy) Sugar, Covered flint, $75.00 1840, Sandwich Lee: Sandwich Pl 158>
06933 Grated Circle & Scrolls Salt, Open flint, 3 1/8 long, 2.5" wide, base chipped $30.00 1830, Sandwich Neal #OO-2, Heacock #3464
06937 Grated Circle & Scrolls Salt, Open flint, , 2.5" round, footed $30.00 1830, Sandwich Neal #OO-2, Heacock #3464
06934 Grated Star Salt, Open flint, 3.5" x 2.5", foot chip $55.00 1830, Sandwich Neal #OL 17
04124 Industry Bowl flint, lacy, 6.25", minor rim roughness $325.00 1850, midwestern
03072 Inverted Diamond w/ Thumbprint Spill 4.5", flint, footed $40.00 1840, Sandwich Barlow
05366 Inverted Diamond w/ Thumbprint Spill 4.5", flint, footed $40.00 1840, Sandwich Barlow
06207 Inverted Diamond w/ Thumbprint Spill 4.5", flint, footed $40.00 1840, Sandwich
<09180 leaf border Bowl flint, 7", diamonds & bull's eyes, rim chips $30.00 1840, ?
08362 Lyre & Ice Tongs? bowl soda glass, minor rim chip, 7" $75.00 1835, Pittsburgh MacKearin, pl 144
05792 Miniature Toy Plate 2.25"d, lacy, Sandwich Museum $15.00 1830, Sandwich Lee, pl81
07569 NE-1A flower basket Salt, Open Opalescent white, marked New England Glass $800.00 1835-45, New England GV 2004
07573 NE-1A flower basket Salt, Open clear, marked New England Glass $800.00 1835-45, New England GV 2004
00801 No. 802 (Midwestern) Plate Flint, 2 chips on rim, 4.25" lacy, roses, square motif $18.00 1840, midwestern Lee & Rose P382
01024 No. 804 Plate $18.00 1840, Sandwich Lee & Rose pl113
02252 No. 885 Honey Dish flint, 3", hexagonal $10.00 1840, ? Lee & Rose, pl 123
<09170 Oak Leaf Bowl Flat, Flint, 9.5" round $250.00 1830, Sandwich Lee, pl 128
00692 Oak Leaf Nappy Flat, Flint, lacy $45.00 1830, Sandwich Lee, pl 128
01104 Oak Leaf Nappy Flat, lacy flint, 5.25" $18.00 1830, Sandwich Lee, pl 128
01658 Oak Leaf Nappy Flat, lacy flint, 5.25" $15.00 1830, Sandwich Lee, pl 128
02130 Oak Leaf Nappy Flat, Flint, lacy, stippled to rim $30.00 1830, Sandwich Lee, Pl 126
08166 Oak Leaf Nappy flint, 6.5" round, chipped rim $15.00 1840. Sandwich Barlow #1016
00967 Plume & Acorn Nappy 4" flint, small chips $5.00 1850, Sandwich
02734 Plume & Acorn Nappy 4" flint $7.50 1850, Sandwich
02739 Plume & Acorn Nappy 4" flint $7.50 1850, Sandwich
02740 Plume & Acorn Nappy 4" flint $7.50 1850, Sandwich
05157 Plume & Acorn Nappy 4" flint $7.50 1850, Sandwich
<09173 Plume & Diamond Plate Flint, 8", no stippling $35.00 1840, Sandwich Lee, pl 88
01323 Pressed Gothic Arch Sugar Base flint, lacy, chip on rim $75.00 1840-50, Sandwich Barlow, #1084
07584 Pressed Princess Feather & Diamond Plate 5", amethyst, flint $300.00 1845, Sandwich Barlow #1033
05791 Pressed Princess Feather Medallion bowl 6.5', Flint lacy, large rim chip $10.00 1830-1850, Sandwich Barlow #1025>
00791 Pressed Sunburst Sauce flint, 4.5", 2 rim chips, sunburst bottom $18.00 1830-40, Sandwich BarlowI#1128 p146
05155 Pressed Sunburst (Star Bottom) nappy flint, 4" rim spalls $5.00 1830-40, Sandwich Barlow, p146
05156 Pressed Sunburst (Star Bottom) nappy flint, 4" rim spalls $5.00 1830-40, Sandwich Barlow, p146
05158 Pressed Sunburst (Star Bottom) nappy flint, 3.5" rim spalls $5.00 1830-40, Sandwich Barlow, p146
04078 Princess Feather Sauce 5.5", flint, lacy, chip on rim $25.00 1840-50, Sandwich
02134 Princess Feather Medallion Sauce 4.25" flint, weak impression, 1 scallop chipped $20.00 1840, Pittsburgh McKearin Pl 142 #6
08163 Ray, Chain Border Plate flint, 6" rough rim $20.00 1840. Sandwich Barlow #1060
08165 Roman Rosette Nappy flint, 6.5" round, chipped rim $15.00 1840. Sandwich Diamond Rosette Barlow #1109
05855 Roman Rosette, Lacy Plate Flint, Lacy , 4" $10.00 1840, Sandwich Rose #803
<09171 Rondels plate flint, 6", chips on rim scallops $45.00 1840-1855, Midwest Innes, p273
00207 Rose & Thistle Bowl Lacy flint, small chip on rim, 7 1/2" $250.00 1840, Sandwich Lee: Sandwich pl94
02799 Sawtooth & Lattice Spill $45.00 1830, ? Metz I #12 p8
05164 Scale? Nappy flint, 4.25" scalloped rim, minor roughness $5.00 1850, ?
05165 Scale? Nappy flint, 4.25" scalloped rim, minor roughness $5.00 1850, ?
05166 Scale? Nappy flint, 4.25" scalloped rim, minor roughness $5.00 1850, ?
05167 Scale? Nappy flint, 4.25" scalloped rim, minor roughness $5.00 1850, ?
<09186 scroll & acanthus leaf Compote, Open flint, 4.75", rectangle, rim chip $85.00
05856 Scrolled Leaf, Lacy Dish 4.5" rim spalls $14.00 1835, Sandwich Corning, p45
09185 scrolls & loops Compote, Open flint, 8.5", high standard, polished base $125.00 1835, France? >
<05788 Shell & Circle Plate 5.5", rim spalls, lacy, flint $20.00 1830-1845, Pittsburgh Innes, p261
09174 shell & flower plate flint, 5.25", polished rim $20.00 1840, Sandwich Lee, pl 113>
08120 Stag's Horn Salt, Open Flint, 3" long $55.00
01950 Star & Plume Plate flint, lacy era, no stippling, chips underfill $10.00 1840, Sandwich Plume & Diamonds McKearin, pl 137 #8
08164 Stippled Bull's Eye Nappy flint, 7" round, chipped rim $15.00 1840. Sandwich Barlow #1107
03692 Sunburst & Bar Sauce 4.5" flat $6.00 1886, Hobbs Hobbs #102; Maltese Cross Welker, p384
03693 Sunburst & Bar Sauce 4.5" flat $6.00 1886, Hobbs Hobbs #102; Maltese Cross Welker, p384
<09172 Tulip & Acanthus Leaf Bowl flint, 7.5" round, rim chips $45.00 1840, Sandwich Lee, pl 131
00566 Tulip & Acanthus Leaf Sauce Flint, flat 5.5", Lacy, 2 small spalls $38.00 1835-45, Sandwich Lee, pl.131

<09179 Val Saint-Lambert plate flint, 5", scroll rim $25.00 1830-1850, Belgium Corning p384
06935 Vertical Ribs with horizontal corners Salt, Open flint, 3" x 2", polished rim chipped $30.00 1840, Sandwich Lee pl26 #4
09178 Victoria Regina plate flint, 5", crown with VR, English? rim chips $55.00 1837-1840, Corning p360>
01837 Waffle & Ball Bowl flint, 6" lacy era, rough rim $14.00 1865, Union Glass Somerville, MA
<09169 Waffle & Ball Bowl flint, 6" lacy era, rough rim $14.00 1865, Union Glass Somerville, MA
02625 Waffle & Ball Sauce flint, 4 1/8", lacy era $12.00 1865, Union Glass Somerville, MA
02626 Waffle & Ball Sauce flint, 4 1/8", lacy era $12.00 1865, Union Glass Somerville, MA
02627 Waffle & Ball Sauce flint, 4 1/8", lacy era $12.00 1865, Union Glass Somerville, MA
<09190 wings & scrolls finger bowl 4.75" diameter, polished base, French? $35.00
08168 zz stippled cross Plate flint, 4.25", cobalt blue $25.00
01604 zz sunburst base, ball rim Bowl flint, lacy $20.00

 

This page last modified on 12/19/2009