Pattern Glass Was An Affordable Glass

BOOK REVIEW

What collectors refer to as Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) was the pressed glass made from about 1830 to 1915. It was especially popular beginning in about 1850, when manufacturing techniques developed to the point where the glass was affordable to middle class families. What is, more specifically, pattern glass usually refers to the glass in which a specific design, or pattern, was used on many different pieces, most of which could be used as part of a dinnerware setting.

Some patterns were applied to dozens of different pieces, such as goblets, butter dishes, spooners, celerys, pitchers, creamers and banana stands – items we’d rarely find used on today’s dinner table. One of the most elegant pieces of pattern glass was the cake stand, which is a cake plate mounted on a pedestal. These are featured in Early American Pattern Glass Cake Stands & Serving Pieces, a recent Collector Books publication written by Bettye S. James & Jane M. O’Brien.

EAPG cake stands were usually made in crystal, although a few were made in color – these are especially sought after by collectors. They also came in several different shapes, including round, square, rectangular, oval and octagonal. The stands, originally referred to by their manufacturers as salvers, wafer salvers or cake plates, sometimes had a well in the center of the plate, which might be very shallow but could be as much as 1 3/8 inches deep. Into this, brandy was poured, to flavor and moisten the cake. (This was especially used with fruit cakes.)

This book includes 479 different patterns, arranged alphabetically from Actress to Zipper Cross. (This is by no means all the patterns used for cake stands, and other known patterns used on the pedestal cake stands are given in a comprehensive list.) Listings include the manufacturer, the date of manufacture, other names by which the pattern is known, the dimensions, the market value, and one or more photographs. In some cases, a serving piece other than the pedestal cake stand is pictured, where the stand was not available, in order to show the pattern. Some listings include photos of both the cake stand and additional serving pieces.

Early American Pattern Glass Cake Stands (ISBN: 1-57432-596-6), hardback, is priced at $29.95. Check with your local bookseller or contact Collector Books, PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002; online at www.collectorbooks.com.

Donna Miller

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Now Available: A Dictionary With All The Answers

BOOK REVIEW

The Antique and Collectible Dictionary, by Robert & Claudette Reed, compiles 20 years of research on terms, brands, companies and names which are used in the antiques business. The sources were early books on antiques, old catalogs, documents, newspaper clippings, dictionaries and more. The terms cover all facets of collecting activity.

If there’s a term that’s been confusing you, or you’re trying to find information on an obscure company, this may be the source you need. Does a furniture auction listing include an abattant? This is a term for an early drop-front or fall-front bureau or desk. Going to a car swap meet and find a reference to an American Scout? It was sold by American Motors, located in Indianapolis, in 1912. (The original price was $1,250.) Does a listing for a piece of American pottery describe the color as burnt umber? It’s a term used to make “dark brown” sound better.

The range of terms is fascinating. I opened the book at random and found on the two facing pages listings ranging from Fisk’s burial caskets to the Flintstones! In the same place, I found that fish skin used to be used as a covering for clock cases, in combination with silver mounts and fittings; and the Flamingo ukulele was a toy musical instrument sold in the early 1950s. Not only is the book useful, but it’s also fun to just browse through.

The Antique and Collectible Dictionary (ISBN: 978-1-57432-580-5) is a Collector Books publication. It is priced at $24.95. Check with your local bookseller or see the online catalog: www.collectorbooks.com.

Donna Miller

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Schiffer Publishing Offers Many Books
On Costume Jewelry

BOOK REVIEW

Do you love costume jewelry? If so, you’ll want to check out these books, produced by Schiffer Publishing.

American Costume Jewelry, Art & Industry, 1935-1950, by Carla G. Brunialti & Roberto Brunialti, is a two-volume set. The first volume covers manufacturer histories from A-M; volume two completes the alphabet, covering N-Z. (Actually, it stops at W, with the E.K. Wertheimer & Son company.)

Almost 1,000 photographs and 700 patents, advertisements and illustrations are included in this well-researched set. Most of the pieces are shown at close to their true size.

The books (ISBN: 978-0-7643-2982-1 and 978-0-7643-2983-8) are priced at $59.95 each.

Bakelite Jewelry, The Art of the Carver, by Lyn Tortoriello and Deborah Lyons, pictures over 1,000 pieces of carved Bakelite, mostly from the 1930s and 1940s.

Pins, clips, buckles, pendants, earrings and bracelets were all intricately carved in a countless number of patterns and representative pieces are shown in the 300 photographs in this book.

Bakelite Jewelry, The Art of the Carver (ISBN: 978-0-7643-2914-2) is priced at $39.99

The Art of Juliana Jewelry, by Katerina Musetti, showcases the dazzling pieces created by designers William DeLizza and Harold Elster.

While most of it is unsigned, it is recognizable by its extravagant use of rhinestones and art glass stones. The book provides information on the makers, design elements and construction techniques, and details to assist in identification.

The Art of Juliana Jewelry (ISBN: 978-0-7643-2911-1) is priced at $59.95.

This brooch and earring set by merry renk (she never capitalizes her name) is an example of American Modernist jewelry.

Yet another type of jewelry is the topic of Form & Function, American Modernist Jewelry, 1940-1970, by Marbeth Schon.

Just as the “modern” look was being exhibited in everything from furniture to dinnerware designs in the mid-20th century, so was it reflected in the jewelry created by many of the jewelry artists of that period of time. Plastics, pearls, brass, copper, silver, gold and enamels were among the materials used to make their pieces; some could almost be considered to be miniature sculptures. Ninety-six artists are featured in this extensively researched book.

Form & Function, American Modernist Jewelry, 1940-1970 (ISBN: 978-0-7643-2976-0) is priced at $69.99.

Jewels of Passion, Costume Jewelry Masterpieces, by Sherri R. Duncan with Deby A. Roberts, showcases vintage costume jewelry masterpieces from over 50 mid-20th century companies.

The author sees the jewelry as beautiful little works of art, and photos of the author and her friends wearing the jewelry, accompanied by stories and memories, add an interesting touch to the book.

Jewels of Passion (ISBN: 978-0-7643-2897-8) sells for $39.99.

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Identifying Avon Jewelry, by Sandra Sturdivant, illustrates 3,200 pieces of glittering jewelry items distributed by Avon Products from 1965, when the jewelry line first began, to 2006.

Each piece is identified by its official name and date of release, based on the original company brochures.

Information on the designers is included.

Identifying Avon Jewelry (ISBN: 978-0-7643-3061-2) is priced at $34.99.

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For Schiffer books, see the online catalog at www.schifferbooks.com or contact the company at (610) 593-1777; fax (610) 593-2002. Schiffer books are also available from your local bookseller.

Donna Miller

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