This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Often Overlooked - American Brilliant Cut Glass

To some it looks like something from Grandma's house or something you acquire inexpensively via garage sale. To others it looks like gold. 
This is one are of collecting that can be extremely profitable. I have seen plenty of estate sale conductors and garage sale proprietors mistake ABCG for EAPC (Early American Pressed Glass)  and then misprice it. It is these pricing inefficiencies that allow an astute buyer or collector to buy pieces worth hundred for often less than $10-20.00. 
American Brilliant Cut Glass, especially if signed, or if the piece is identified, fetches between $25.00 for a simple champagne glass to upwards of $30,0000 for complete, ornate punch bowl sets. 
So what is American Brilliant Cut Glass? Simply stated, ABCG is glassware handcut by wheel during the American Brilliant Cut Glass Period. The American Brilliant Cut Glass Period began in 1876 when a number of companies introduced this primsatic glass at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. This marked the end of American dependency of Europe for designs and patterns. For the next 40 years or so following the Exposition, America produced THE FINEST cut glass in the world. Unfortunately demands for lead (an essential ingredient in lead crystal glass) during WWI caused the demise of the industry. Some companies lingered around for a few years after WWI, but the desireable ABCG is the glassware produced, cut and used between 1876 and 1920.
ABCG can be distinguised fromn EAPG by touch. ABCG has a "sharp" feel, whereas the molded EAPG may look similar, but when the designs are touched, they feel "rounded". Also EAPG has mold lines often visible to the naked eye, where ABCG has no visible mold marks. Item verus item, ABCG also weighs alot more than EAPG on account of the high lead content. 
ABCG is identified and described in a few different ways. The easiest method is to describe the shape and the cut patterns. 
The most common shapes are bowl, celery, vase, jug, oil, and nappy. Some of the less common shapes include bonbon, large jars, tubs, footed designs, candlesticks, colognes, flasks, bottles, flower holders, underplates, and punch bowls. 
Pattern identification includes the miter outline and the motif. Miter outlines are bars, rows, border and miter, star, gothic arch, panels, swirls, pointed loops and circles. The motifs are lines, diamonds, stars, and buzzsaw. The there are dual motifs and combinations and minor motifs. 
Another way to identify and describe the piece (and this is much easier if the piece is marked) is to simply match it up to one of the pieces in the old catalogs. 
There were many well-known makers and collectors can get reprints of their old catalogs to aid in the process. 
Some of the well known makers include, J.D. Bergen and Company of Meriden, CT, T.B. Clark & Company of Honesdale, PA, C. Dorflinger & Sons of Brooklyn, NY, O.F. Egginton of Corning, NY, Empire Cut Glass company of Felmington, NJ, H.C. Fry Glass Company of Rochester, PA, T.G. Hawkes & Company of Corning, NY, J. Hoare & Company of Corning, NY, Libbey Glass Company of Toledo, OH, Mount Washington/ Pairpoint of New Bedford MA, Pitkin and Brooks of Chicago, IL, Quaker City Cut Glass of Philadelphia, PA, H.P. Sinclaire & Company of Corning, NY, L. Straus & Sons of New York, NY, Tuthill Cut Glass Comany of Middletown, NY,and Unger Borthers of Newark, NJ. There are at least 15 lesser known companies as well as Candian makers. 
You can also identify ABCG by patent number and by old magazine advertisements. 
Now you also have to be wary of counterfeits out there. Very common pieces as well as very rare pieces have been counterfeited. You can use the following to detect counterfeits. 
1. Black Light Test. Using a long wave black light in a dark room, inspect the piece. On genuine ABCG a lime green color rings the piece. Counterfeits usually have a pinkish or purplish ring. 
2. Counterfeit pieces usually use thick and heavy blanks as compared to those of original cut glass. 
3. Signature. Some counterfeits have signatures but they are generally smudged and difficult to read as opposed to genuine pieces. 
4. Wear Marks. Authentic cut glass shows wear marks from usage, counterfeits do not. 
5. Striations. The counterfeit pieces are cut with diamond wheels which were not in existence during the ABCG period. Use a magnifying glass and look for striations in the cuts. Striae in the cuts is indicative of a counterfeit. 
In a nutshell, collecting American Brilliant Cut Glass can be a fun and rewarding pursuit. Pieces can be had for collectors in all economic strata. If you like doing research and pouring through old advertisements and catalogs, this can be a very reward pastime should you happen to come across an important or significant piece. And as always, go slow, study up on the pieces, and collect only what you actually like and enjoy. 
Till next week 
John 



  

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?