I believe this extremely well-done bowl was cut by Hawkes in the earlier part of the Brilliant Period. It is reminiscent and carries many elements of Hawkes early Imperial design and if you compare the two side by side, the similarities and style jump out.
The pattern is quite complex and features bars of crosshatching running from a center, square hobstar formation towards the edge of the bowl. These bars frame large 8-sided hobstars which are wood wheel polished to perfection. Weaving deep miters run throughout the design splitting up the other elements and creating an almost “Wedgmere-like” effect. The rim on this bowl is unlike any I’ve ever seen – it’s made of crosshatched lobes which contain a split cut in each lobe. The recessed portions come down to a “U” which also supports the Hawkes attribution.
I believe this design is one of the nicest unknowns I’ve ever seen (and the only example I’ve ever seen). The bowl is on the clearest of blanks and wood-wheel polished to a silky perfection. It’s in excellent condition with one tiny flake at the edge and measures 9” wide and 3 3/4” tall.
This heart-shaped nappy was cut in Hunt’s Royal pattern – one of the most collectible and identifiable designs from the period.
An Arcadia styled design runs around the edge of this piece – comprised of crossed bars of crosshatching intersecting and a clear-button hobstar separating larger, deeper hobstars. That border frames the interior of deep, Persian cutting. The relief of this cutting leaves knobs where each hobstar is cut. The “handle of the nappy” features parallel, notched miters for grip.
The nappy is in great condition and features one area of light roughness at the handle. It measures 7” wide and 1” tall.
This carafe is cut in Libbey’s extraordinarily rare Rhomb design. This is very likely Libbey’s rarest pattern – with only a handful of examples known. It was created by the premier designer of the Brilliant Period – William C. Anderson.
Coming up from the base of the carafe is a large hobstar formation which leads into 5-pointed stars with flashed centers – an often-scene Anderson motif. These 5-pointed stars make up a framework for the rest of the design – housing a pair of clear-button hobstars which hold the upper-portion of the design which includes tusks, crosshatching and cane cutting. The neck of the carafe is fluted and notched.
The carafe is in excellent condition and measures 7 1/2” tall and 7” wide.
This unusual example was cut by CF Monroe. The size, the fact that it’s 8-sided, and the mirrored interior make it a rare find.
The top of the box features an elaborate hobstar formation with tons of tiny, flat hobstars filling out the points of the larger hobstar formation. The sides of the box are decorated with large, deep hobstars separated by notching in fans.
The blank is clear and extremely large at 5 1/2″ tall and 6″ wide. It’s in perfect condition and would make a great piece for a gift or to round out your collection.
This is a gigantic pitcher cut by Elmira Cut Glass in their popular and highly skilled 100 design. This is one of the more popular patterns of the Brilliant Period.
Vesicas of cane frame all four sides of a giant hobstar on the perimeter of this pitcher. They hold another smaller hobstar towards the upper portion of the design, which has two fans at top. The rest of the pattern has a crosshatched field with 3 splits which is the tell-tale sign this is Elmira’s 100 design. The neck of the pitcher is cut with step cutting and a triangular field of crosshatching and a fan – a typical way for Elmira to finish a pitcher. The handle is triple notched and the base is finished with a 24-point hobstar.
The pitcher is extremely large, measuring 9 3/4″ tall, 7 1/2″ wide and weighs 7.5 lbs. It’s much larger than most pitchers of the period and a fine example on an extremely clear and bright blank.
This beautiful tray has elements of both Straus and Oconnor cutting. While the maker is unknown, the quality is very high on this handled ice cream tray.
Four large vesicas sprout from the center of the tray and end at each of the four corners. They house two adjacent 8-pointed, clear-button stars and two crosshatched, internal vesicas. The large vesicas are framed by notched cutting and surrounded by hands on all sides. Four large, deep hobstars sit on all sides of the tray and the handles are step cut, for extra grip.
The tray is in excellent condition and on a thick, heavy blank measuring 13 3/4″ long, 8 1/2″ wide and 2 1/2″ high. Offering at a value-price. 2483
There’s very little this bowl doesn’t have – a wide variety of detailed motifs including triple miter trellis. I sold a nearly identical punch bowl to this which can be seen here.
A framework of hobstars run around the rim of the bowl. Each of these hobstar is crosshatched between the points and surrounded by a modified cane cutting in a cross-cross pattern. Underneath that border are fields of triple miter trellis with clear-button centered hobstars alternating with other fields of deep hobstars. Large fanned diamonds surround a central interior hobstar. To say this bowl has a lot going on is an understatement.
The bowl is in perfect condition and measures 9″ wide and 3 3/4″ tall. This is a stunning pattern, one I’ve only seen one other similar piece of. INV 2559
The Oriental design is one of Hawkes best and most underrated design. The amount of detail and variety of motifs is staggering. This bowl is signed in the center with the Hawkes trefoil logo.
The Oriental design has three fields which feature an extremely unusual hobstar formation, which features thirteen hobstars each! Each of these areas is surrounded on all sides in zippered cutting which runs into a square-off hobstar. The center of the plate features a beautiful cluster of hobstars. The remaining portion of the pattern consists of chains of hobstars and crosshatching separated by notching and additional crosshatching in the teeth.
The bowl is in perfect condition, on a perfectly clear blank and measures 8 3/4″ wide and 2 1/2″ tall.
This is an extremely unusual design and execution that I’ve only seen one other time. The blank of the bowl is exceptionally thick and heavy and weighs 7lb 1oz.
This bowl features deep, crossed channels Throught the design. What’s particularly unsuual is that the channels are deeply rounded – most cut glass, channels come to a straight angle with miters – but this almost appears scooped out. It’s a stunning effect and on this thick of a blank, they were able to achieve extreme depth. The channels frame some 8 pointed hobstars with fanned centers, flat hobstars, and crosshatched fields. The interior of the bowl features a hobstar framed with notching while the rim features arches framing engraved panels. The rim of the bowl has an unusual scallop and notched motif.
The blank of this bowl is exceptional – especially for such a thick piece. It measures 9″ wide and 4 1/4″ tall.
This is a great shape cut by J. Hoare in their collectable Marquise design. The exact piece is shown on page 130 of the Black Hoare catalog reprint by the ACGA.
A chain of hobstars runs around the exterior rim of this piece. Under these hobstars is a band of cane cutting which separates the chain from the rest of the pattern. The lower portion of the pattern features portions of hobnail and flat hobstars with an overlaid crosscut band framing feathering cutting in 4 leaves. The entire flared neck is step-cut and the base is covered with a 24-point hobstar.
The tazza is in good condition but has a few tiny nips to the interior rim. It measures 9 3/4″ wide and 7 3/4″ tall.
Kensington is hands down my favorite pattern by Libbey. While it’s often used in the same breath as as Aztec, Grand Prize, and Marcella, I find it to be much more intricate. It’s richly cut, without obscuring how insanely clear the blank is. I think this was William C. Anderson’s best design.
I don’t really know where to start when describing this pattern – there’s so much going on. Single bands of cane weave throughout the bowl, framing a host of different cutting. A richly cut 5 sided star fills the center of the bowl and has branches of diamond point hexad coming from all sides. Somehow, the cutters at Libbey managed to wrap this extremely detailed cutting on a sharp angle that makes of the base and side of the bowl. Above the hexad cutting is a clear-button, wedding cake hobstar. The rest of the cane frames two clear button hobstars, crosshatching, and triple miter trellis. Again, there is a lot of masterfully conceived ideas executed on this bowl.
The bowl measures 8 1/4″ wide and 3 1/2″ tall. It’s on the clearest of blanks.
