Lot
Number | Description | Number
of Bids | Current Bid |
|---|
| | | IMPORTANT MIDWEST AMERICAN BI-COLORED PILLAR MOLDED VASE
10 1/4" h., Brilliant amethyst, lead glass, that light passes easily through, well proportioned body with an intricate tooled rim pushed inward, but not folded down against the body, on applied deep blue pedestal with inverted compressed knop medial knop, polished pontil ; Pittsburgh, Pa, probably Bakewell, Page & Bakewell c. 1838-1850, flawless attic mint condition. There are only a few known pillar molded vases that meet the criteria of "finest Known", two of those examples are presently in the Metropolitan & Corning museums. These vases are untouchable, and are considered by Midwestern collectors and enthusiasts of American Pillar molding to be among the most desired, but yet the most difficult of forms to acquire. They easily take center stage among the greatest rarities in Midwestern glass objects; take for instance the amber example in the Metropolitan Museum, the vase is showcased dead center, surrounded by Zanesville pattern molded sugar bowls, pattern molded pitchers, with a backdrop of rare colored historical flasks, there's no doubt as to the focal point. This stunning early period pillar molded vase is not only a one of a kind in amethyst, but is the only known Midwestern example made in two colors. Not to be confused with later "River Boat' glass production circa 1860-1870, although not something to be ignored, however, it's not the same thing. In regard to dating pillar molded glass, we know of three conical non-lead creamers, sapphire blue and amethyst, that were dug in a Camden NJ privy dating from 1830 's period; also pillar molded glass dates from 17th century Europe to first century Rome; we are proud to present this stunning American icon for sale at public auction, happy bidding ; for good reference, see Pittsburgh Glass by Lowell Innes, color plate 7, amber vase owned by Lowell Innes, plate 184 "One of the finest pieces of pillar -molding known", amber, with hollow baluster, Corning Museum; olive amber example featured in the Metropolitan Museum NY city; this amethyst/ blue vase from the collection of Crawford Wetlauffer. | |
| 46 | $ 55,000 |
| | | IMPORTANT BI-COLORED SOUTH JERSEY BEEHIVE OPEN SALT
1 7/8" h. x 2 7/8" w., Medium sapphire blue and aquamarine, bottle glass, circular bowl with decorated top section having intricate horizontal "Beehive" tooling, no less than five deep grooves on the flattened interior bowl corresponding to rounded horizontal banding on the outer side of the bowl, applied aquamarine "crimped "foot with a light sapphire blue tubular pontil scar; South Jersey, possibly early Fislerville NJ, c. 1850, possibly The Waterford Glassworks, NJ, c. 1830-50's period, stunning attic mint condition, like a jewel! In collecting American blown salts, the overall Bee Hive style shows more variation in design than any other American open salt known to collectors of 19th c American Glass. The skill it takes to make one of these is relegated to master status; no reproductions exist that are made in the 20th or 21st centuries, not a one. There is a small blue double lily pad creamer in the Philadelphia Art Museum belonging to the Lorimar collection; it too has the same identical aquamarine crimped foot and is made in the same eye catching blue glass; hands down one of the most important South Jersey salts known to exist, do not hesitate, just make it yours!! | |
| 22 | $ 9,000 |
| | | EXCEPTIONALLY RARE CHECKERED DIAMOND SALT CELLAR
2 3/4" h., Cobalt blue, non-lead, ogee shaped body blown into the checkered diamond pattern with one large diamond containing four smaller diamonds, pontil scar; attributed to the New Bremen Glass Manufactory, Frederick, Maryland, owned and operated by John Frederick Amelung, c. 1785-95, mint condition; the checkered diamond design is almost synonymous with the name Amelung, in the same manor that Stiegel is synonymous with the "Diamond Daisy" design. In examining this specimen, one of the special features on this example is the fact that the checkered diamonds looks like separate windows, they stand out and are easily identifiable; see Elsholts plate 115 for same salt, one of the finest examples known in regard to form and impression; ex Richard Woods, ex. Crawford Wetlauffer. | |
| 26 | $ 5,500 |
| | | MIDWESTERN COLORED PATTERN MOLDED BEEHIVE BOTTLE
8 1/2" h., Yellow, with a touch of amber and a hint of olive, beehive shaped body patterned molded with 24 swirled ribs, applied collar, open pontil; Zanesville, Ohio or Pittsburgh, Pa., c. 1824-30, mint; great color and form, rarer in color than the globs, not many of these guys hanging around anymore, grab them while you can; very desirable and super rare! | |
| 18 | $ 5,000 |
| | | UNIQUE OHIO PATTERN MOLDED BEEHIVE CARAFE BOTTLE
6" h., Topaz olive, soda lime, beehive shaped body with wide short cylindrical neck with flared- out rim, patterned in a 21 rib swirl design, pontil scar with "monkey's tail"; attributed to Mantua, Ohio, c. 1824, sparkling mint; classic beehive body with wide neck and mouth, "carafe" form with beehive shaped body. This flared-out lip treatment can be seen on Ohio pockets flask, globs, cruets, and Historical flasks, usually the exception to the rule, but when found they are often sold at a premium, two good examples of this are the 10 diamond Zanesville flask and the Shepards Masonic/agricultural flask, generally found with a sheared lip; an absolute treasure in the rare Mantua 21 rib mold, found years ago in a private collection from Ohio, ex. James Hagenbauch collection. | |
| 1 | $ 750 |
| | | EXTREMELY RARE MATT JOHNSON LILY PAD PITCHER
5 1/2" h., Aquamarine, bottle glass, compressed globular body with superimposed slanted type 2 lily pad decoration, wide neck decorated with delicate horizontal threading, applied semi-ear shaped handle, applied circular foot, pontil scar; attributed to the Keene Marlboro Street Glassworks, Keene, NH, c. 1850-59, immaculate proof condition.
Comment: Classic Stoddard form mastered by famed 19th century artisan glass blower, Matthew "Matt" Johnson! This noted form is generally found in ambers and olive amber associated with production at the Stoddard works. The bubbly aqua metal used in the making of this pitcher is closer to bottle glass production at the Keene, NH, glassworks c. 1855, then window glass production at the Redford NY glassworks c. 1850, or products from the earlier NY state glass factories, such as Redwood, Harrisburg or the Mallorytown Glassworks, Ontario, Canada; this pitcher is non-different than a classic Stoddard lily pad pitcher attributed to Matt Johnson, it's just that its aqua. The glass is identical to the Keene Richardson Bitters and leaves little doubt that the pitcher was made in Keene as Johnson simultaneously worked at both Stoddard and Keene during the mid 1850's; the beauty of this example is unsurpassed in its rare intermediary size, covered in bubbles with a beautifully shaped handle and swept back type 2 lily pad decoration. The threading is so delicate that you would be afraid to sneeze, the weight of the pitcher is light and airy, a true Johnson master piece!
History: After leaving Redford shortly after 1850, Johnson found his way to New Hampshire bouncing from Stoddard to Keene and back to Stoddard! In the year 1860 Johnson celebrated his 50th birthday, he his wife and four children started settling down, renting a house in Stoddard. By 1864 he was gone. It is suspected that he was working in New Jersey, and in 1870 Matt Johnson returned to Stoddard; his children followed in his footsteps with one son working at Stoddard and the others working in New York State; there are many works of art in American blown glass attributed to this master of the so called "lily pad" design that are considered to be examples of Johnson's finest work, here is one of them you may find at the head of that list, as we still hold the record for highest price paid at public auction for a Matt Johnson Lily pad pitcher, we would hope our assessment of this example to be of some help in its acquisition! | |
| 16 | $ 10,000 |
| | | ZANESVILLE HANDLED JUG
6" h., Brilliant yellow olive, non lead, semi-ovoid shaped body, applied folded over collar, applied "loop" handle to the shoulder, crimps and terminal, pontil scar base; Zanesville, Ohio, c. 1824-28, sparkling mint; brilliant, crisp and clean, just a tad different color than usually encountered, very rare, perhaps the finest known example! | |
| 11 | $ 2,500 |
| | | ZANESVILLE PATTERN MOLDED INKWELL
2 1/2" h., sea green aquamarine, non -lead, wide funnel style body, pattern molded with 24 pronounced swirled ribs, pontil scar; attributed to Zanesville, Ohio, possibly Shepard & company, c. 1826-32, attic mint condition. Undoubtedly one of the finest Ohio ribbed examples you will come by. The impression is bold, in high relief with each rib sticking out off the body, especially the shoulder; covered in seed bubbles this inkwell has it all, character, rarity, and impression !! | |
| 21 | $ 3,500 |
| | | UNIQUE MATT JOHNSON LILY PAD "SPOONER"
4 3/4" h., x 4 3/4" w., Bluish aquamarine, bottle glass, squat bulbous body with wide cylindrical neck with tooled out folded rim, superimposed second gather artistically tooled into a type 3/type 2 lily pad design, applied solid conical foot, pontil scar; attributed to legendary 19th century glass artisan Matt Johnson, probably made at the Redwood NY state factory, possibly Mallorytown, c. 1848-1859, in -manufacture stress crack on lower body under lily pads, about 5", there are a couple of crud, as in dirt, filled surface bubble- bursts, otherwise showcasing mint . This lily pad technique sums up the style and talent of Matt Johnson, so entirely American, so definitely Folk Art in American glass. It's hard to pin the form down, whether or not it is a vase, open sugar or a spooner, is a matter of opinion since the construction is adaptable to each proposed possibility, what it is however, is no less than an important discovery in American glass! | |
| 13 | $ 1,200 |
| | | EXTREMELY RARE ROBINSON FACTORY SUGAR BOWL BLOWN BY JAMES LEE
8 3/4" h., Amethyst, clear and brilliant lead glass, bulbous body with galleried rim, applied double knoped pedestal with circular foot, dome lid with ornate finial, pontil scar base; Pittsburgh, Pa., c.1830-40, sparkling mint condition. See Pittsburgh Glass by Lowell Inness, page 105, no. 55, for colorless sugar attributed to James lee of the Robinson & Son factory, Pittsburgh, flawless mint state condition! It would be near impossible to find a more beautiful sugar bowl so don't try, it can only be different; the overall form, color, technique and condition sum it up, it's in a class of its own, Lee is known for this recognizable "trade mark" finial, he should have been an architect! There is a prized blue example in the Polis collection with a more "urn" shaped body, that at the time of its acquisition, Jane Spillman, Arlene Palmer and Gary Stradling marveled over having not seen another. When compared side by side with any unpatterned Ohio example in amber, the estimated value is easily doubled, yet there are many more of the Ohio examples made available in comparison to the singularity of the amethyst "Lee "bowl ; take advantage of what your eyes see, this is simply a magnificent early American sugar bowl to put it simply! | |
| 20 | $ 5,500 |
