Ruby Stain Pattern Glass

The key years for ruby stained glass production were 1891 to 1920. The timing was controlled by the social context in which this glass was developed. The United States was rapidly growing and a large middle class was developing. They wanted fine things like the upper class. Pattern glass, especially stained and decorated glass, provided for this need. It could be had from coast to coast as Sears & Roebuck and Montgomery Ward carried it in their catalogs for individuals and wholesale catalogs such as those by the T.M. Roberts Company and Butler Brothers carried it for stores.

It was beautiful and it was cheap. A four piece table setting, butter dish, sugar, spooner [with the spoon's bowls sticking out of the top], and creamer, of the Atlanta pattern sold for 55¢ in the Roberts' wholesale catalog of circa 1898. [Heacock, Book VII, page 239.] This glass brought beauty into most homes, sod huts to city townhouses. The glass was used in every day American life.

The stained pattern glass could be decorated by engraving or etching ferns, flowers, ivy, and birds, among other motifs, through the stain. Enamel could be added on top of the stain. However, the name of a loved one, a World's Fair, or a city could also be engraved. Around 1890, each glass manufacturer would introduce two new patterns each year. One pattern would be very complex so as to mimic cut glass. One would be plain enough so that it could be decorated. Thus were ruby stained glass souvenirs born. Large amounts of ruby stained glass were souvenired. This occurred immediately.

The Excelsior pattern [actually, X.L.C.R.], introduced in 1891, was probably the most popular ruby stained pattern. It was also called Ruby Thumbprint and the pattern, albeit not in ruby stained, is still being produced. In my collection is a tankard style water pitcher in this pattern engraved as a souvenir of Atlantic City and dated 1891, the first year that it was produced. While many collectors only want un-souvenired pieces, the souvenired pieces give us dates of production and in many cases are the only stained form surviving of that pattern. Fostoria's Atlanta or Square Lion pattern is known in ruby stain only in souvenired tumblers. [See Newsletter #1.]

As a final note, be careful with historical references, "ruby" color was initially used to indicate what we now call "cranberry" glass.

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