Lot
Number | Description | Number
of Bids | Final Bid |
|---|
| | | UNIQUE NEW ENGLAND BLUE GLASS SHIPS LAMP
9"h., Brilliant cobalt blue, lead glass, large ovoid shaped font with applied ring at top supporting a brass collar, applied heavy cylindrical pedestal terminating with oversized circular foot nearly 8" w., pontil scar; attributed to the New England Glass Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts. C. 1850-65, mint condition, found in eastern Massachusetts. This is the only lamp of its kind that we know of. That it must have been a sight to behold aboard ship is easily understood. Its essence as a ship's lamp lies within its construction. Designed with forethought and diligence to help prevent against the outbreak of fire aboard ship, the lamp is basically unbreakable with a massive foot and heavy pedestal to safeguard against tipping, or dropping. The glass is so thick and heavy that if you do decided to test it out and drop it, prepare to repair your floor, not the lamp. Holding more oil than the average lamp, this humongous oil lamp is a sculpture in lighting not to be forgotten, it makes a statement! | |
| 18 | $ 3,000 |
| | | RARE FREE BLOWN HANDLED "BELL" LAMP
Approx. 4 3/4" h. to top of collar. Deep purple blue, bottle glass, bell shaped body with flattened shoulder at the top, short finished neck covered with brass collar, fitted with screw in double prong brass burner, applied heavy handle with intact terminal, polished pontil; attributed to the Kensington Union Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pa., c. 1830-50, perfect, mint condition. There is archeological evidence suggesting that this style lamp may have been one of the earliest successful innovations in early lighting from the east, dating back to the 18th century. It is also a form that had success and longevity, steadily used through the 19th century, well into the late 1870's. Found pretty much exclusively in colorless glass and shades of aquamarine, it is interesting as to why we have not found these lamps in any other colors. This stunning blue example is a great treasure. For years now, the brick-lined privies of Philadelphia and wood-liners of New Jersey have given up many a "bell" lamp including mold blown and pressed examples, mostly colorless with aquamarine occasionally found; this blue lamp has been anticipated and at long last has arrived, it is the beautiful "blue bell" of Philadelphia tri- state area! | |
| 23 | $ 2,750 |
| | | EXTREMELY RARE THOMAS CAINS BI-COLORED WHALE OIL LAMP
7" h., Colorless and purple blue, lead glass, bulbous font with internal mercurial ring, applied horizontal ring wafers upper and lower, central hollow ball knop, resting on lower wafers and pressed glass "lemon squeezer" base, pontil scar; attributed to the South Boston Flint Glass Manufactory or The Cains Glass House, c. 1812-52, mint condition; probably made during the late teens or early 20's, this example is one of an originally pair that had been broken up many years ago. They were originally discovered in Willington, Connecticut. There is another pair of colored Cain Lamps known, literally identical, except the central knop is of dark blue, mottled with white glass flecks, see "The Glass Industry of South Boston" by Joan Kaiser, pg.46 , no.17. These lamps are considered by collectors of American Glass and lighting to be the nonpareil of Boston lamps; beautifully crafted, amazing workmanship & early American design, the best! | |
| 21 | $ 9,000 |
| | | RARE MASSACHUSETTS BI-COLORED WHALE OIL LAMP
6" h. Blue & colorless lead glass, blown spherical font on solid cylindrical stem with central button knop, applied blue trumpet base with upturned rim folded downward, referred to as a "petticoat" lamp, pontil scar; attributed to the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, Ma., c.1825-35, mint condition; The color of the applied foot is a rich shade of vibrant cobalt blue, probably one of the finest examples known; see Glass in Early America by Arlene Palmer, plt. 315, also "A Concise History of Glass"- The Chrysler Museum, page 341. | |
| 24 | $ 5,000 |
| | | UNIQUE FREE BLOWN SPARKING LAMP
3"h., opaque to translucent blue opal, lead glass, one piece construction, ovoid shape body with drawn foot, applied semi-ear shape handle, open pontil; probably Sandwich Glass Works, C. 1820-30, Sandwich, Mass., remarkable overall condition with a tiny in-making flaw mark on the side of the terminal mentioned for accuracy, amazing overall condition!
This lamp is pictured in American Glass by George McKearin in light purple, plate 14, called South Jersey Type. Rarely found on the market, a few specimens have been sold at public auction and are known in blue and purple amethyst. This example is truly one a kind in regard to its outrageous color, or should I say colors? Appearing one moment in two distinct shades of blue milk glass, light on the top, dark on the bottom, changing then to a fiery golden opal with a band of red at the top, the rest of the lamp a translucent sapphire blue??? Crazy, beautiful! There are no commonsense words to describe how wonderful this little lamp is; rare and truly one a kind! | |
| 27 | $ 8,500 |
| | | RARE COLOR MOLD- BLOWN KENTUCKY SYRUP
5" h., brilliant golden amber, bottle glass, pear shaped body with pewter collar and arched shaped pour-spout and lid, applied ear shaped handle, circular foot, pontil scar; attributed to the Louisville Glass Works, Louisville, Kentucky, c.1850-60, some damage to the old pewter cover, early home repair with ancient glue underneath, showcasing with no problem, otherwise the syrup is mint; beautiful color and great form, one of the finest! | |
| 7 | $ 1,100 |
| | | EXCEPTIONAL NEW ENGLAND GLASS COMPANY VASE
11 1/4" h., Cobalt blue, lead glass, compressed squat-shaped globular body, with elongated trumpet style neck with down folded rim, decorated with applied double-ring medial band, resting upon a cylindrical pedestal with inverted ball knop at the top, drawn-out at the base to form a solid circular foot, open pontil: attributed to the New England Glass Company, c. 1816-1830, perfect condition. This is one of the finest known vases from the New England Glass Company. Best possible form and proportions, excellent color, outstanding workmanship, the highest degree of excellence; a dramatic expression of the glassblowers' art, easily ranking one of the top ten blown vases in American Glass, and perhaps the finest colored example known; ex. Mikalonis collection, ex. Robert Saxe collection. | |
| 1 | $ 1,000 |
| | | IMPORTANT PAIR OF BAKEWELL "GREAT SEAL" CUT & ENGRAVED EAGLE DECANTERS
9 3/4" h. (to top of stopper) Clear, lead glass, slightly tapered straight sided body with sloping shoulders, cut panel decoration at base, deeply carved great seal motif with spread wing eagle and shield, surrounded by laurel wreath, rays and stars over head, necks decorated with applied rings, pressed mushroom stoppers, open pontil: Attributed to Bakewell Page & Bakewell, Pittsburgh, Pa., c. 1825-30, mint condition, found in Pittsburgh Pa.
COMPARATIBLE "GREAT SEAL" GOBLET: EX. SUSSEL, BILLUP, COURTNEY
Same engraver, near identical "Great Seal" engraving see "A Decade of Glass Collecting, Melvin Billups coll., no. 82, featuring a rare and most noted Pittsburgh Goblet with eagle & wreath Great Seal, this goblet was also owned by Arthur J Sussel of Philadelphia Park Bernet, 1959, no. 87, as well as being owned by James Courtney, see 1984 Garths Catalog for the Courtney sale, lot 251; for comparable eagle decorated decanters see plate 48, American Glass, by George McKearin.
COMMENT:
These decanters are stunning and historic, hard to imagine anything better. The cut panels reflect the cut-panel style of glassware that Andrew Jackson ordered from Benjamin Bakewell after thousands of dollars of glass & china were destroyed at what was possibly Jackson's inaugural party. Although lacking in any real provenance, it's hard not to imagine that these decanters were at one time associated with members of state, or the Commander in Chief himself, although speculative they are as presidential as could be; we are proud to offer these important decanters at auction, they are perhaps the finest pair known, of superb quality and unsurpassed condition | |
| 3 | $ 6,000 |
| | | RARE FREE BLOWN WINE GLASS MADE AT WISTARBURGH
6 1/4" h., Colorless, slight gray amberish tone with overall patina, potash lead glass, bell shape bowl resting on a applied ball knop standard, larger compressed knop on top terminating with lower ball and conical foot with folded rim, pontil scar; attributed to Wistarburgh, Alloway, NJ, c.1738-1780, some scratches, high point wear to ball knop, otherwise great condition; sold at Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, public auction, May 19, 1972.
WISTAR GLASS BLOWER WILLIAM LAMBERT, & THE LAMBERT FAMILY OF ALLOWAY NJ:
Descended in the family of William and Sarah Lambert, a glass blower who settled in Alloway, NJ, around 1770, passed thence to his son Isaac Lambert to Benjamin Lambert, thence to his son Wilbur Lambert and then to Beatrice Lambert born in Alloway in 1892. The family is buried in the Baptist Cemetery, Alloway, NJ. Lambert Street, in that town, is named for this very family.
COMMENT:
Early glass at Wistarburgh reflected both English and Germanic glass styles to satisfy the needs of the colonist, it was the beginning of "Buy American." The archeology at Wistarburgh supports this outstanding provenance as many wine glass shards in colorless lead glass are found at the site along with many "worked" colorless wine glass shards proving the glasses were made there. This is the first intact wine glass that has come to light and its significance lies within its provenance. Maybe to some it's just a glass to some, but what sets this one apart is its documented history, it changes everything. Provenance such as the Wistar family ledger, "glass & ceramics", compiled in 1876 by Catherine Wistar Pennock, had only four examples out of 367 entries that were attributed to Wistar, that's it, only four! We were able to acquire one of the four examples directly from the great granddaughter of Catherine Wistar Pennock, a Wistar Bulb Glass (for indoor Hyacinths and Tulips), which was later sold at auction where it brought a record price. The value of provenance is that it could, at times, change the simplest of things into the most desirable, without question. Lastly, when dealing with the physical attributes, the metal is somewhat heavier and of meaner quality in comparison to English wines of the period; the glass looks like a heavily used bottle house piece that spent life in a Colonial tavern, which is logical considering its pin-point provenance; yet another piece of the puzzle, an American Grail !!! | |
| 27 | $ 2,100 |
| | | EXTREMELY RARE AMETHYST /WHITE LOOPED PITCHER
9" h., Colorless, lead glass, bulbous body with arched pour spout, marbrie decorated with threads of wine amethyst and opaque white glass pulled up into a looped pattern, applied colorless handle, applied circular foot, pontil scar; attributed to Pittsburgh, Pa., c. 1845-60, possibly Sandwich stunning mint condition. Another masterpiece made by this skillful gaffer resides in the Toledo museum, pictured full page on plt. 137, pg. 86, with text on pg. 147, in American Glass 1760-1930, by Kenneth Wilson, almost identical but in blue and white. There can be no doubt that this gaffer had reached the pinnacle in design and execution in the making of these fine pitchers. This example was owned by John Tiffany Gotchen and sold through Armans auction. In regard to this pitcher the colors are spectacular, the amethyst is a wine, puce- amethyst, beautiful and soothing; it's hard to imagine a more beautifully formed glass pitcher, truly an American work of art to be shared and treasured ; ex. John Tiffany Gotchen coll., ex. Dr. John Schott Collection. | |
| 17 | $ 5,000 |
