Rose Point Etching
by Russell Vogelsong
Issue 90 - October 1980
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article first appeared in the Vogelsong Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 2, August 28, 1971. Even though it has been almost ten years, the information is still of interest to our many Rose Point collectors. The CRYSTAL BALL wishes to thank Mr. Vogelsong for allowing us to share this information with our members.
Cambridge Rose Point is the most popular pattern collected today. This pattern may be found on any item Cambridge made after introducing Rose Point in 1935. I have seen Rose Point etching on Caprice Crystal and I wouldn't be surprise if somewhere in this country existed a Rose Point etched Crystal Flying Lady Bowl or a Red Flying Lady Bowl etched and gold encrusted. We hope you enjoy reading some background material about fabulous Cambridge Rose Point.
The following information came to us from two sources. Our first was from a circular letter dated October 25, 1934, and was sent to all agents by W. C. McCartney, explaining the introduction of a new Rose Point Etching. The letter reads:
ROSE POINT ETCHING
CIRCULAR LETTER #144
TO ALL AGENTS:We expect to have ready around November 1st, samples of the new Rose Point Etching, at which time we will send you samples and full information.
In the November issues of China, Glass and Lamps and Crockery & Glass Journal, we are running full page ads with a cut of Rose Point showing the Goblet, Tall Sherbet and Plate. This ad will inform the trade that this new Etching will be ready for shipment around the 10th to the 15th of December, so that the customers may have it in their stores for their January business.
We are not holding it back and sampling it January 1st and advertising it at that time due to the fact that we want to be the first on the market with the Rose Point Etching for, no doubt, our coming out with this at this time will keep any other glass manufacturer from making a Rose Point Etching or at least using the name "Rose Point."
The Pope-Gosser China Co. makes a Rose Point Design on Dinnerware, while R. Wallace & Sons make a design called "Rose Point" on Silverware, both of which are very striking and most beautiful. Pope-Grosser has applied for a design patent for the Rose Point design for dinnerware, R. Wallace have asked for one to use the design on Silverware and we have application for a design patent for the Rose Point for Glassware.
We have asked both of these companies to furnish us a list to whom they have sold their Rose Point, as in offering this line to the trade, we believe that you should first offer it and try in every way to sell it to the customers who in particular have bought the dinnerware of Pope-Grosser's. You will find as a rule that where the store has bought the dinnerware, they have bought the silverware. If we have this information, we can then send it to you and you can work on these customers first, rather than having to go out and ferret out the customers having the dinnerware and silverware.
We are sending you this letter in advance of the samples and information on the line so that you can study over the proposition and if all matters are not entirely clear to you, you can write us and be ready to do business at the time of sending the samples.
Yours truly,
THE CAMBRIDGE GLASS COMPANY
W. C. McCartney
Secretary and Sales Manager"
Our second source of information was from what we believe to be one of the first advertisements for Cambridge Rose Point. The ad reads as follows:
ROSE POINT
A magic word - a word to conjure visions! Brides of Yesterday in hoop skirts! Brides of Today in slender silhouettes! Brides of royal blood, resplendent, glorified, adorned for the altar in bridal veils of Rose Point lace!
Rose Point lace is made entirely be hand by the peasants of Belgium, requiring infinite skill and patience. Years are sometimes required to complete a single pattern and many hands have a part in the making. The finest of cotton thread is used and so delicate is the design that magnifying glasses are worn by the workers. It is never washed, as water would destroy its perfect texture. The younger generation of Belgians have neither the patience not the inclination to perform so tedious a task, so Rose Point lace is becoming increasingly rare.
And now there is another Rose Point luxury for brides, less rare, less costly, but beautiful and distinctive and new - CAMBRIDGE ROSE POINT CRYSTAL!
THE CAMBRIDGE GLASS COMPANY
CAMBRIDGE, OHIO
EDITOR'S NOTE: Along these same lines, the December 1974 Issue #20 of the Cambridge CRYSTAL BALL contained an article by Ruth Forsythe. We are reprinting a portion of this article here.
This is just part of a letter found in an old notebook of W. C. McCartney of the Cambridge Glass Company. It is not known to whom it was directed or from whom it came, but certainly brings out again the importance of design and name in selling.
1/1/35
C/L#30 - Page #2'Regarding Rose Point Lace. Stopped into Marshall Fields this morning and talked to the buyer of this department. They have a fireproof safe in which they keep all of the Rose Point and other fine handmade laces.
I do not know how complete your information is on this type of lace, but this lady told me it was practically all made in Belgium and none or very little being made now. It is all made by hand, of cotton, taking years to make even a single yard of some of the more complicated patterns.
They have one piece there 9" wide that they want $75 a yard for, and this has been marked down from $120 a yard. They have another piece 18" wide and this is a very exquisite one with the rose petals made free from the main body of the fabric. They are asking $300 a yard for this and it has been marked down from $500. This piece of lace has been in the store for over forty years and was exhibited at the last Chicago Worlds Fair."