The glass is distinguished by the white enamel painting of children in silhouette dressed in typical Victorian “Sunday best” clothes in some sort of outdoor setting. They are usually playing some type of game like flying kites, bowling hoops or blowing bubbles. They are usually surrounded by some form of foliage such as grass, trees or ferns. The glass can come in a variety of colors from clear (the least valuable), amethyst, dark green, amber, blues and finally cranberry, which is the most valuable.
There is a myth that original Mary Gregory glass was painted by an older lady who longed to have children of her own. Because she couldn’t, she decorated glassware with images of children playing that she could never have. There is no history to support this story. There was, however, a real Mary Gregory who worked for the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company until the late 1880’s, but Mary Gregory glass was never manufactured by that company. The true origin of the name of Mary Gregory glass may never be known.
New Mary Gregory glass is still being made and the collector should be aware that there are many reproductions available on the market today. When looking for an original piece, make sure that it has a pontil scar on the base where it was mouth blown. The quality of glass will usually show other signs of being mouth blown and may have tiny bubbles. The glass will have a heavier weight to it than most contemporary glass. There have been instances where older Victorian glass has been painted over with Mary Gregory-like décor so you should look closely at the painting to make sure it doesn’t appear to be slap-dash or weak.
The value of original Mary Gregory glass can be anywhere from $40-50 to upwards of more the $700. If you are buying on the upper end, you should try to determine the provenance of the piece to ensure its authenticity.
(Inquire for availability. Pitcher priced at $125.50. Green Vase priced at $89.95. Free shipping in Continental US)
No comments:
Post a Comment