Antique glass collector is proud as a peacock
Q. Enclosed is a photo of a clear pressed glass plate. The pattern is "Peacock," and the plate is 5 inches in diameter. The design is in relief. The rim has small scallops. And the bull's-eye in the center is surrounded by S-scrolled designs.
This glass plate has sparked my interested in collecting antique glass. What can you tell me about my antique glass plate?
A. You have a nice example of the lacy glass pattern that was made by Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. It was founded in 1820 by Deming Jarves in Sandwich, Massachusetts. He employed Irish and English glass blowers. The factory made blown glass, mold-blown glass and pressed glass. By 1930, he began producing pressed glass pieces using an innovative new method. As Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. grew and prospered, so did the community. His pressed glass pieces were decorated with an overall lacy pattern, thus the name lacy glass. The Peacock pattern is also known as "Peacock Eye" and "Peacock Feather." Jarves' factory began experiencing economic and labor issues and in 1887, the union workers from the surrounding factories went on strike. Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. went on strike in solidarity with them. By 1888, they were forced to close.
Your lacy glass plate was made around 1835 and would probably worth $25 to $75.
Q. This mark is on the bottom of a porcelain pitcher that I have. It stands about 7 inches tall and has an Atlantic blue glaze. The inside is white and is in mint condition. I bought it from an antiques shop around 1973.
Anything you can tell me about the mark, the vintage and value will be greatly appreciated.
A. Villeroy & Boch made your pitcher. Johann Franz Bock founded his factory in Mettlach, Germany, in 1748. Nicholas Villeroy merged with Bock in 1836. They made porcelain and earthenware steins, dinnerware and decorative pieces. Their first pottery was in an ancient Benedictine abbey. Over the years, they acquired several additional potteries. Villeroy & Boch is still in business today. The mark you provided was used from 1874 to 1909. The figure wearing a winged hat and holding a staff entwined with snakes represents Mercury, the god of commerce.
Your pitcher was made circa 1900 and would probably be worth around $75.
• Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters.
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