My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.
Trevaise glass from the collection of Frank W. Ford
Vases exist that look an awful lot like Tiffany Favrile glass, with good reason. Here’s the story.
This Tiffany Favrile vase has a button pontil
The Alton Mfg. Co. of New York bought the old Sandwich Glassworks, which had closed in 1888. They hired a talented gaffer, James H. Grady, who had worked at Tiffany Studios in Corona, NY, to come to Sandwich, MA, to head a team to produce “High Class Glassware”, to be called Trevaise. Production began sometime in May 1907, but stopped by the end of the year when the glassworks was closed for extensive repairs. Work was supposed to resume after the holidays, but never did. In February, 1908, C.F. King, the president of Alton Mfg. Co. disappeared with the proceeds of the company. He was later arrested and convicted of 27 counts of larceny. The Alton Mfg. Co. permanently closed. Therefore Trevaise glass was only made for a few months, from mid-May, 1907, to the end of the year.
Another Trevaise vase from the collection of Frank W. Ford
Here are some characteristics of Trevaise glass. Mostly vases were produced without handles. The vases always have button pontils and they are never signed. Of course, there have been unscrupulous people over the years who’ve decided it was easier to sell these vases with Tiffany signatures, so some of them are found today with spurious signatures. The glass is usually thicker than authentic Tiffany Favrile vases, so they’re often heavier than similar examples from Tiffany.
Many thanks to Frank W. Ford for his assistance in the preparation of this post.
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Our next show is approaching quickly. We’ll be in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, starting April 15th. It’s a beautiful show, with both antiques and gardening, that you’ll absolutely enjoy. We only have two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area, so come and say hi!
If you’re selling, please let me know. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.
I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.
