Topic: Early American Cut Glass Compote c.1830. For Show

[cagney]

  Strawberry diamond & fan with blazed punties. One of a handful of patterns that consistently show up in American cut glass from roughly the 1820-1840 period. Usually attributed to a Pittsburgh manufacturer. The shape and construction of the blown blank [three parts] bowl, stem and foot also typical for the period. In this case the foot has a ground/polished foot ring with extensive wear. Approx. 8 5/8" wide [21.9 cm] and 6"tall [15.2 cm].

  I always wanted one of these early compotes for my collection but the cost was prohibitive [usually $300.00 at auction]. Got lucky on eBay as they were selling it as pressed glass and nobody else noticed.

[cagney]

  Some more of this pattern in different forms. Decanter, jellies, wines and a tumbler

[flying free]

Nice find
I have no idea who Pittsburgh makers might have been.  Was Pittsburgh a big glass making area and do you have any idea who candidates might have been for your bowl?

m

[cagney]

  By mid 19th century Pittsburgh was the epicenter of glassmaking in U.S.A. From Bakewells  factory beginnings in 1809 it grew exponentially. In 1880 the U.S census took a special interest  in the industry .Their findings are telling. Of the 91 establishments producing tableware in the U.S.A. [ pressed and luxury table glass] 30 were located in Pittsburgh and environs.
  Bakewell would be the obvious attribution for this compote, the probem is there were probably a handful of other co. producing the same article in this period.
 
  Enter "Pittsburgh in the search function at CMOG you will get results that give a sort of overview. 19 pages some extraneous.

[flying free]

ooh I looked into Bakewell (?Pears) when I was investigating a goblet c.1850.
I didn't actually manage to come up with very many items but I liked the ones I saw. Heavy, substantial and well designed pieces.
I'll have another search when I get a minute.  Thanks
m

[cagney]

  Another compote in the same patternhttps://metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/16738
  Decanter rich cut [ faceted neck rings, star cut foot, etc.] https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/58047

  The smallest cut glass three ring decanter I have ever seen from this period. It literally fits inside a cut tumbler of the same period.

  Still have a photo of your goblet. They are kinda rare in American cut glass from this period.

[flying free]

oh the goblet turned out to be Saint-Louis but I originally thought it was American.  I can't quite remember now why I looked up Bakewell Pears but in the end  I wrote to maybe the Boston and Sandwich curator(?) and they said not theirs.

Thanks for the extra photographs.  I wonder why the small decanter is so small and what it was to hold?  Perhaps a one person whisky decanter?

[cagney]

  I really don't know. I will say it approximates the size of several different forms [bitters and colognes] but does not conform to any I have seen. I think it an actual decanter. Whatever it was meant to hold was probably very dear or expensive, or both.