Some Major American Cut Glass Factories

Famous American cut glass factories of the 1800s and early 1900s are listed here, along with their locations, dates of operation, and marks. Factory Location Dates of Operation Mark J.D. Bergen Company Meriden, Connecticut 1886-1913 Clark Hatch & Clark T. B. Clark & Company, Inc. Honesdale, Pennsylvania 1884-1885 1885-1927 O.F. Egginton Company Corning, New York […]

American Brilliant Cut Glass (1876-1910)

Cut glass became the rage after the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, where many of the major American makers showcased their wares and demonstrated the cutting process. Thick, heavy, clear glass was cut with deep miter cuts that removed wedge-shaped pieces. Then, with a succession of increasingly smaller wheels, more delicate mitered cuts were made, […]

Brilliant Cut Glass Or Pressed Glass?

Look: Cut glass sparkles more than pressed glass because it has sharp edges. Pressed glass designs are molded into the glass, making rounded edges that feel dull and do not reflect light as well. Lift: Pick up a cut glass item and compare it to a similar piece of pressed glass. The cut glass will […]

Middle-Period American Cut Glass (1830-1876)

Middle-period American cut glass remained simple in design, still favoring flutes, panels, and printies (shallow round shapes). Engraved designs of the same period used naturalistic themes, the most popular being grapevines and leaves, and later, mythological scenes. The most elegant cut glass of this period was flashed, or cased with another layer of colored glass. […]

Cut Or Engraved?

There are two basic differences between cut and engraved designs: the texture and the style of the design. Engraved designs, also called intaglio, have a gray, frosted tone and tend to be floral or figural. A copper wheel is used for engraving, and very little of the glass is removed from the surface of the […]

Early-Period American Cut Glass (1771-1830)

Early-period American cut glass resembled German thin-walled wares and English heavy flint wares. Like most clear glass of the time, it was a bit gray in color with minor bubbles. The cut and engraved designs helped to cover the flaws and added luster to the glass. Cut panels and flutes and engraved swags and festoons […]