AMERICAN AND CANADIAN BRILLIANT PERIOD CUT GLASS

This fabulous glass is a world of its own when it comes to the subject of glass. For centuries we all have been enamored by the beauty of glass. Glass has been executed in many forms by great artisans of their trade.

GUNDY-CLAPPERTON, BRILLIANT CUT LOW BOWL

CLAPPERTON, BRILLIANT CUT GLASS PITCHER

Cut Glass was a phenomenal monetary asset to the American economy at the time, employing great glass artisans from all over Europe and producing some of the best glass the world has ever seen and will never see again in production. By the end of WW II, this glass was now almost extinct and would never be ever produced again with the preciseness and exquisiteness of these master cutters and engravers of the time.

This specific kind of glass dazzled the world, especially America upon its production, and never ceased to amaze the wealthy with the various factories unlimited talent to constantly produce different designs that meet with approval and thirst for bigger and better creations as the weeks, months and years went by. Now the various cut glass houses or factories were in a furious competition to outdo themselves and many times created the outrageous or extravagant and totally non-functional pieces that are now only in private connoisseur collections and museum displays, such as the many cut glass oddities and rare banquet lamps and punch bowls which are on display in the Corning Museum in New York City.

As years went by, the best factories, because of their creations and superiority of products, surfaced to the apex of their industry and became renowned household names in the estates of the very wealthy and famous; and today is held in prestigious esteem either by private collectors and or museums throughout the United States and other parts of the World.

This amazing craft is basically a lost art form and fabulous pieces such as exquisitely cut punch bowls, carafes, epergnes, perfume or cologne bottles, ice tea pots, and decanters, etc. are ardently treasured by connoisseur collectors and museums. As we know, these pieces will never again be produced and our only hope of owing them will be by finding them and realizing the rarity of certain pieces and their values.

NOTE: As you have read these past several pages, you will have realized that I have taken you on an educated excursion through time in the evolution of some of the history of this glass and its makers. You are now probably still wondering What is Cut Glass? Well keep tuning in and I will be presenting at a later date more information on the subject.

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