GOWANS & KENT BRILLIANT CUT GLASS LOW BOWL DAISY DESIGN

This Canadian Brilliant Period Cut Glass Low Bowl was made by The Gowans & Kent Co., Toronto, Ontario Circa 1910 and carries the signature of “Elite” within a Maple Leaf. It measures 8” Diameter by 2” Depth or Height and has a Daisy floral motif with unusual rim work or scalloping. The blank is of great clarity. Some dealers and writers refer to this kind of motif or design as the “Naturals” or “Intaglios”.

COMMENT: This Brilliant Cut Glass Low Bowl Without Hesitation Can Comfortably Fit Into Any Collection Of Fine Cut Glass!

HISTORY OF GOWANS & KENT GLASS COMPANY

This Company, 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. 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, circa 1906-1931, (3) Roden Brothers, circa 1879-1900 in Montreal, and afterwords from 1900-1954 in London, Ontario; and from 1900-1954 in Toronto, Ontario. 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.

This Company 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 opened shop in Toronto about 1900 and closed about 1918. As to their origins, we do not know. 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.

Their pieces of cut glass are also worthy of any Canadian museum collection/display to preserve our great history of our great heritage of Canadian glass makers of the time.

CONDITION: BTEF condition! There is no discernible damage.  Great clarity of blank! Beautiful cutting of floral design!