Ruby Stain Newsletter

Volume 3, Issue 2

New Patterns

CAVITT
MFR: Jones, Cavitt & Co., Limited
YOP: 1887
NAME: Kamm, Book 5 @ pp. 143-44, Plate #24
OMN: Number 128
OTHER: Mikado Fan [Millard 1, Plate 128; Metz 2 @ p. 149], Bryce #128 [Welker], Star Creamer [Belknap, E McC., Milk Glass, Crown Publishers, New York, p. 105, 1949]
REF: Heacock, W. & F. Brickenheuser: U.S. Glass From A to Z.

I doubt that this piece, a "salad bowl", was made by the Jones firm. The factory was destroyed by fire in March 1891, somewhat early for ruby stain to have been made and decorated by an outside firm. Somehow Bryce Bros. acquired the molds, probably before the fire which seemed major. Bryce was then folded into U.S. Glass Company on 1 July 1891. [Welker, J.W. & E.F.: Pressed Glass in America; Antique Acres Press; 1985; various pages.]

Heacock's & Bickenheuser's Book 5, U.S. Glass From A to Z notes the Mikado Fan was from Factory B, Bryce, only in clear and with limited items. A reference is given to Page 86 but plates illustrating pieces in the pattern are found at Pages 80 & 82, Plates D & C respectively. Plate D shows the salad bowl.

CELTIC
MFR: McKee & Brothers
YOP: 1984
OMN: Celtic. Kamm originally called it Mirror Punty
REF: Kamm, Book 3, Pages 116-17; Book 6, Page 35, Plate #72.
LOOK ALIKES: Carolina, Punty Band

Probably based upon the design of the pattern, plain top and figured base, and her example being engraved, Kamm speculated that "the upper part may be ruby red in some pieces..." And so it is.

I was sure that I was bidding on a Carolina pitcher, see Book #7 @ Page 89 when I bought this one.

CHELSEA
MFR: The Cambridge Glass Co.
YOP: Circa 1906-1920s
NAME: By manufacturer. "Nearcut" line.
REF: Kamm #8, Page 65, Plate #103.

despite the references that state that Cambridge's Chelsea line was marked "Nearcut" I have not found it so. If fact, I was at a loss with regard to the pattern until I visited the new Cambridge Glass Museum in June. They had two pieces in ruby stain.

The museum's pieces and mine all exhibit a "spreading" of the stain to the clear arts of the pattern. All of the pieces that I have seen are souvenired as produced during the time period of the end of the pattern's run.

Kamm describes Chelsea coming "...in rather thick, heavy, bright glass but of a quality not always of the highest–dingy from inferior ingredients, for this was production ware, made in a very large line for use at soda fountains, drug stores, etc." "...it may possibly be found in ruby-stained and engraved, but since this pattern was made in vast quantities for everyday use, such items are probably rare.

The illustrated piece is the "No. 93 Berry Creamer" as found on Page 91 of Book I of the Welker's reprint of old catalog pages from Cambridge. Book II at Page 112 shows the cruet.

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