PAIRPOINT CORPORATION OR RODEN BROTHERS BRILLIANT CUT VASE

This Fabulous Brilliant Cut Glass Vase has a winning charm being that of a beautiful “butterfly, daisy” and floral motif dates 1900-1910 and was made probably by the Pairpoint Corporation of Massachusetts.

BRILLIANT CUT GLASS VASE

This brilliant cut glass vase stands proudly at 11 3/4" high. Pairpoint was famous for its art glass lamps and sterling, and eventually cut glass. 

In addition it has great zipper cutting down the sides as well as an unusual scalloped rim. The shape is somewhat that of an hour glass. This would be from the “Naturals” or “Intaglio” period of cut glass making in the United States at the time.

When it came to cut glass, Pairpoint Corp. was known for its floral and “butterfly” motifs. This piece does not carry a signature; however from various researches we feel that quite possibly this vase could be from this factory. As we know many of the earlier pieces of cut glass were not signed when they left the various factories.

Signing cut glass became more common after 1905. Signatures came into being to protect the specific patterns attributed to specific companies, due to loss of pattern books as the workers moved around from different companies. The signature would protect the pattern from being copied by another company who was not the original owner of a particular design. Some workers did steel pattern or design books as they were fired or rehired by a different company.

This specific cut glass vase was found in Montreal, Canada at a Place Bonaventure Exhibit (Antique Show) some years ago and apparently came from an affluent household there. This would make sense in the fact that Pairpoint did have an outlet in Montreal shortly after circa 1900 and the original purchaser probably bought it from the outlet there.

Some people would argue that this could also be a pattern executed by Roden Brothers of Canada. Roden Brothers of Montreal and Toronto cut similar “butterfly” and floral motifs around the same time period. Many of their pieces were not signed. Roden Brothers started their factory in Montreal as silversmiths in1879 and had branched out into cutting glass as well. Because the vase is not signed and that I have not found an exact illustration, I will not ardently argue the issue of who made it. I will say I once have seen a piece of Roden that was signed with a similar motif but it did not compare. However anything is possible! In 1900-1907 Roden Brothers moved from Montreal and opened shops in London, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario. In Ontario they were especially well known for their sterling. Little information is available about them and would require much more time than I can spare at the moment.

Is it not interesting that so many cut glass companies first opened shop as silversmiths and evolved to becoming well known for their glass? Well crystal and silver go hand in hand!

Tune later for new articles and information about brilliant cut glass. Eventually somewhere down the road there arises new information that is always pleasure to share. Enjoy collecting and continue to research. Knowledge is also very important in the hunt.