by Julie Noyas | Sep 28, 2021 | Miscellaneous
Item Number: #BOT-6
Approximate Size: 7¼” H
Production Dates: 1915-1943
The American pattern produced two Colognes – a small version and a large version. The latter seems to have had little recognition over the years, and in some books, it is simply overlooked. Hence, many collectors think that only one Cologne was ever produced. I have talked with seasoned American collectors and sellers who were quite surprised to learn that there were two different-sized Colognes. Therefore, this piece took some research and digging on my part. I wanted to be sure of the facts before I wrote about them.
Many collectors are only aware of the Small Colognes. The Large Colognes were actually the first to be offered in the American pattern, making their debut in 1915. The smaller colognes did not come on the scene until ten years later! This is an important fact to remember, so it is a mystery to me why the Large Colognes were never accurately described in some of the American resource books. Unlike their smaller siblings, the Large Colognes were only produced in clear crystal and have a bigger cube imprint in their design. They also came with a gorgeous Stopper, which is approximately 2¾” in length.
When it comes to the holding capacity of the Colognes – whatever the size – expect some fluctuation. For the most part, Fostoria Glass described their American Colognes as either being “Small” or “Large”. Every now and again we will see a mention of the holding capacity in catalogs as being 8 oz. for the Large, and 6 oz. for the Small. In 1928, a price list mentions the Small Cologne as being 4½ ounces – which in all probability – is a misprint or clerical error. You should always consider the holding capacity that is mentioned in Fostoria’s catalogs/price lists as being an estimate, not an exact measure.
If you are interested in learning more about current inventory and pricing for this piece, please click the following sponsored link for available Colognes on eBay.
by Julie Noyas | Sep 27, 2021 | Miscellaneous
Item Number: #UR-01
Approximate Size: 4¼” L – 3¼” W – 2¼” H
Production Dates: 1918-1925
Put simply, the Chiffonier is a very difficult piece to find. These items did not have a long production life; however, there are other items in the 2056 line that had even shorter lives – as short as one year. Therefore, their limited life should not be viewed as the main reason for them being so rare. One has to consider other factors as well – how much time has lapsed since production, and the high probability of damage over the years. The Chiffonier has two glass drawers that slide back and forth (glass on glass), and as one can imagine – breakage often ensued.
Since I started this website, I have had many conversations with collectors over the years. I continue to be amazed when I hear stories from family members talking about their grandmother’s Fostoria American “box”. As the original owners passed on, their treasures would be left to various family members. Today, most of these descendants do not know the value or history of the Chiffonier. They just remember seeing the box at their ancestor’s house, and knew how much their grandmother loved it. Some folks have told me that they did not know what finally happened to the box once the estate was settled – or where the Chiffonier ended up. When they later learned about its history, it usually came as quite a shock.
I visited the Fostoria Glass Museum (located in Moundsville, WV) in 2019, and at that time they had a Chiffonier on display. It was on loan from a generous collector, and while it did have visible damage, it was still an interesting piece to see in person. Many people are shocked to see how small the Chiffonier truly is, so please take notice of the measurements I have posted above. The Chiffonier pictured in this post is without damage, and it is my understanding that it was pieced together from different items (box and drawers) so that the current owner could display a complete and undamaged Chiffonier.
In my lifetime, I have seen two Chiffoniers for sale. One was from a private collector, and the other was shown at a glass show. I have read accounts of people that owned not one Chiffonier – but two of them at one time! How many of these items, beloved by their original owners of the early 1900s, could still be in someone’s family today? Their ancestors could be totally unaware of its history and origin. This is a scenario that happens more often than you might think. While Chiffoniers are considered to be very rare items, there always remains the possibility of finding one that has been hiding in obscurity for decades.
Out of the entire American 2056 line, the Chiffonier remains one of the most expensive items to buy. Prices have come down in recent years; however, do your own research to determine a value. Online auction sites don’t usually have this item for sale, and since Chiffoniers are extremely difficult to find, sellers can usually ask whatever they feel the market will bear.
by Julie Noyas | Aug 16, 2021 | Miscellaneous
Item Number: #BOT-5
Approximate Size: 5¾” H
Production Dates: 1925-1943 (Crystal)
The American pattern offered two sizes of colognes – a Small Cologne, and a Large Cologne. The small size was produced for less than twenty years. All of the Small Colognes included a drop stopper; the stopper is just shy of 1″ square. They can be found with both ground (the oldest) and unground necks and stoppers.
Primarily made in clear crystal, Fostoria Glass also produced the small Colognes in Amber, Blue, and Canary – circa 1925. Unlike the crystal Colognes, the ones of color were only made from 1925-1926. Colored Boudoir Sets were offered during this short period of time, and a small Cologne was one of the items included in the set.
The crystal Colognes were also very popular in filigree dresser sets. Other companies would buy the Colognes from Fostoria Glass and assemble them in a dresser set of decorative metal filigree. Some of the filigree designs were plain, while others might have had a painted medallion mounted to its front panel.
If you are interested in learning more about current inventory and pricing for this piece, please click the following sponsored link for available Colognes on eBay.
by Julie Noyas | Aug 3, 2021 | Miscellaneous
Item Number: #M-01
Approximate Size: 6½” W – 3¼” H
Production Dates: 1940-1944
The small and petite 3-Toed Tricorne; it is an item we don’t really hear (or see) a lot about. Why is that? It seems to always be overshadowed by its bigger sibling, the 3-Cornered Centerpiece. Thus, I think it is important to focus the spotlight on the 3-Toed Tricorne. It is way overdue.
I think the first thing I should mention is its official name and description. Rarely do people call it by its proper name. Even some book authors don’t call it by its proper name, which has only led to more confusion. It was never described as a centerpiece by Fostoria Glass, for it is too small in size. Fostoria described this piece as a “tricorne”, which honestly, is a most perfect description. It means “having three horns or hornlike projections; three-cornered”. So let’s be clear; this item is not a centerpiece – it’s a tricorne. (Fostoria first spelled tricorne as I have done in this post, and then later revised the spelling to “tri-corne”.)
The 3-Toed Tricorne is an intriguing item, because frankly – most people don’t know what to use it for. In the beginning, when it was first introduced, Fostoria Glass categorized it as a miscellaneous item. Later, they included it in their nappy category. It seems even Fostoria Glass was conflicted on how to categorize it, and I think that is the case for most American collectors today. Is it a service dish, a bowl, a nappy – just what is this small dish? Truthfully, you can use it for whatever you wish. I have included it in the miscellaneous section of this website.
Another topic worth mentioning is the true production dates for the 3-Toed Tricorne. Unfortunately, it seems that most published production dates for this item are severely flawed. The error is not reflective of a few years; rather, the data is incorrect by decades! Look at the production dates posted above, for this piece really did not have a long life. For that reason alone, the 3-Toed Tricorne might be worthy of another look.
If you are interested in purchasing similar items, please click the following sponsored link for available 3-Toed Tricornes on eBay.
by Julie Noyas | Jul 15, 2021 | Miscellaneous
Item Number: #47
Approximate Size: 7¼” H
Production Dates: 1981-1982
The Bell was designed by Jon Saffell – a talented model maker and design artist. I would be amiss if I did not mention how fragile this item is. Unlike other pressed glassware from the American 2056 line, the Bell is hand blown. Delicate it is, and great care should be afforded to it.
The Bell was one of the last items to be introduced into the American pattern. It made its debut in July of 1981 and was in production for less than one year. Unfortunately, this was a time in Fostoria’s history when they ended all production of hand blown glassware due to high production costs. Therefore, this beautiful Bell had a very short life. It has a high desirability factor because of its limited life, craftsmanship, and truthfully … the historical significance attached to it concerning the timeline of Fostoria Glass.
If you are interested in learning more about current availability and pricing, please click the following sponsored link for available Bells on eBay.
by Julie Noyas | Jul 9, 2021 | Miscellaneous
Item Number: #710
Approximate Size: 2⅜” H
Production Dates: 1915-1981
The Toothpick was one of the very first pieces to debut in the American pattern of 1915, and it continued to be produced for a very long time. This piece was produced in clear crystal during its regular production run. The older Toothpicks will have a ground bottom; the newer pieces will not.
In 1983, the Fostoria Glass Society of America, Inc. commissioned this piece to be made as a souvenir – in the color Ruby. There were a total of 500 made, and at that time, they stated all “seconds” would be destroyed. Therefore, should you find a Toothpick in Ruby, know that they are in limited quantities. The Ruby Toothpicks are stamped with the “FGSA” logo (and year) on the bottom of the glass, making them easy to recognize. They are a bit heavier and thicker than the Fostoria-produced Toothpicks.
If you are interested in purchasing a similar piece, please click the following sponsored link for available Toothpicks on eBay.
Some Toppers might show up in the search results, as people seem to like to use those items as toothpick holders as well.
