BRIEF HISTORY OF CANADIAN CUT GLASS COMPANIES

The Canadian Cut Glass Company of Gowans and Kent began their partnership in Toronto circa 1900 and lasted until 1918. Of course, we all know that after WW I most companies went under, even in the United States.

GOWANS & KENT BRILLIANT CUT GLASS

GOWANS & KENT BRILLIANT CUT GLASS

GUNDY-CLAPPERTON BRILLIANT CUT BOWL

CLAPPERTON BRILLIANT CUT GLASS COMPOTE

As we know, Canada did not have a large amount of factories producing this caliber of glass. In the history, we only have (1) Gowans & Kent, circa 1900-1918, (2) Gundy & Clapperton, in Desoronto, Ontario circa 1906-1931, (3) Roden Brothers, circa 1879-1900 in Montreal, and afterwards from 1900-1954 in London, Ontario; and from 1900-1954 in Toronto, Ontario. Then we have Dingwall Cut Glass Company of Ontario who was also a distributor for Clapperton. In addition we have O.B. Allen of Vancover, Canada of which little is known. He was a West Coast distributor for Clapperton.

As for Montreal, we had (1) George Phillips, circa 1904-1971, who came in from the United States and opened shop, (2) Henry Birks, known as the “House of Birks” from 1879 to the present and (3) Pairpoint Corporation circa 1900-1930.

Unfortunately, Canadians are not the researchers that Americans are in terms of this specific glass category, being that of “cut glass”. To date, we do not, to my knowledge, have much information about our cut glass manufacturers as we should have. It is somewhat unfortunate because the companies that we did have did some absolutely fabulous work that is most definitely comparable with any of the American factories.

The work of Gowans & Kent and Gundy & Clapperton is impeccable in terms of their shapes, patterns and geometric cutting on beautiful clear blanks. Of course like all companies toward the end, when labor costs were rising, the cost and scarcity of lead becoming the main issue… the quality of patterns started to slide to compensate. However at their apex, these two companies and Phillips of Montreal were absolutely the "cream of the cream" in terms of their creations.

Philip's Cut Glass Company of Montreal produced great earlier examples of cut glass and most if not all of their blanks were of great clarity. Again, a company not to be reckoned with; they as well were producing superior quality cut glass that could compete with their Canadian counterparts or American rivals.

There is not much information on this factory either…the same as our other Canadian cut glass factories. However we do know that they also opened a branch shop in Toronto about 1900 and closed it about 1918. As to their origins, we do not know other than having first opened in Montreal about 1904. We have not traced them as having had been employed or trained under any American operation. We do however know that they too were great in their field of cutting some great pieces. Phillip's Glass Company was still in business in Montreal up to the mid 1980s but were mainly doing commission work of engraving and some minor repairs and polishing but were not actually cutting glass. My business partner and I have had the pleasure of meeting one of the male glass cutters in the mid 1980s. By then this glass factory was but a small thread of evidence of their former existence. Their pieces of cut glass are also worthy of any Canadian museum collection or display to preserve our great history of our great heritage of Canadian glass makers of the time.

Once again, Gundy-Clapperton comes up to the plate and can gracefully compliment any fine cut glass collection whether it be an American or Canadian collection. The craft of cutting glass is most definitely well executed and exhibited in this company. As we know, Clapperton and Gundy-Clapperton are held in high esteem for their quality of work and can be comparable with any of the best American factories of their day; As well, can rival with any of their Canadian counterparts.

As we have repeated throughout the site, Clapperton came in from the Libbey Factory, Ohio, USA and opened shop in Deseronto, Ontario in 1905 and joined partnership with Gundy in 1906 and did not close their doors until 1937. They were successful and managed to survive WW I when shortly thereafter many American counterparts failed and had to cease operations. This is a testament to their stamina and quality of creation and desirable craftsmanship.