National Cambridge Collectors, Inc.

A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Bits & Pieces From 1934

By Mark Nye
December 2008 - Issue 423

The following "bits & pieces" first appeared in "Crockery and Glass Journal" during 1934.

"Those seeking to add pieces of interest to their post-Repeal glassware should see the Cambridge Glass Company line. Pressed crystal bottles for the liquid diet are made in a variety of sizes in two types of shapes, a rounded and a squared form, while the stoppers of both are in keeping with the types of bottles.

Another group of interest is their Nautilus line. This has a cordial, a wine, a whiskey bottle, and an iced tea jug with tumblers and glasses in keeping with each of these types. All of these bottles are rounded, reminding one of the Nautilus with its circular ribbings for both the body and stopper. The spout is drawn directly from the body, while the handles are placed in a rather squared effect at the top. The cordial glasses are fairly tall stemmed while the other glasses are footed tumblers in varying sizes, depending on the bottle of the set to be made up. In this same line we have sugar, creamer, and pepper and salt shakers with chromium tops that carry out the idea of the larger pieces.

In the stemware they are showing a blown bowl with a squared stem in a variety of cuttings and etchings that range from the simple classic to the modern Neo-classic. Swirl cuts and swag effects vie with pineapple and simple-line cuttings. They are also showing several Val St Lambert and Waterford types of cuttings in a full range of stemware." February 1934

"Quite a number of new glass items are to be seen at the Cambridge Glass Co. Square decanters plain, etched or with heavy cuttings, also labeled with Scotch, Rye or Gin labels. Decanters and bottles of all types and shapes either decorated or plain that leaves you plenty of choice, no matter what the tastes of your clientele may be.

For home serving, and the coming seasons promise much more than what has been done in the past, they have an array of relish dishes in three, four, five and six compartments. There are plenty of shapes and an array of decorations which adds much to the sales values. Besides this they have marmalade dishes and mustard dishes, all to help in setting up for home entertaining. They have also brought out a line of buffet plates in the Everglade, Mount Vernon and Martha Washington patterns.

They have a modern line with a square stem and a Bubble etching called 'Vichy' made up in stemware and flatware. It is really a grand line and the etching adds much that is desirable to the simple severe shape.

For liqueur service, they have a handled cordial set – colored glasses and a crystal tray that makes an excellent retailer. Their Gadroon line adds a variety of bowls in different shapes and numerous odd service pieces in colors just as we found in the original lineup. The Nautilus line, that we described a few months ago, has taken to tricky cuttings and etchings that greatly enhance the elegant shapes." April 1934

"The popular shape, No. 7966, at the Cambridge Glass Co., is now being offered with a cut stem in a complete line of stemware. Undecorated, these will retail for around $10.00 the dozen for the goblet. This is really just the beginnings of the possibilities which this line offers, for the shape is a simple bell shape tapering down to the cut stem and permits many decorations. These will be presently on the market shortly." July 1934

"Spun Glass Dress in Marshall Field's Glassware Department
Passing through the glass department of Marshall Field & Company customers wondered why an old fashioned dress should be displayed in the glass department. But when they examined it their wonder turned to astonishment for the sigh told them that this dress was made of spun glass, was the only one in the United States, and probably the only one in existence.

This glass dress, which is the property of the Cambridge Glass Company, is made of glass threads many times finer than silk threads. It was made in America in 1902. At that time Maxine Elliott was the leading stage favorite and a great beauty. The dress was made on a figure representing Miss Elliott. She posed many times for the modeler making the wax figure and also for the artists making the dress. This dress was not only a show piece, but could be used, for Miss Elliott wore it during one of her performances in New York. The durability of spun glass is shown by the fact that Miss Elliott wore it in 1902. It was on display at the Buffalo Exposition on a model of Miss Elliott, and was again worn on the stage by an actress in 1927.

The Cambridge Glass Company loaned this to Marshall Field & Company as an exhibit which would be of great interest to the thousands of Century of Progress visitors who visited Field's store this summer." August 1934. Editor's Note – Nothing is known about the dress today, even to whether it still exists or has been destroyed.

"The honey box – a square dish with a cover in the Gadroon pattern has been especially designed to fit a box of honey. A ridge around the top of the dish holds the box, while a knife run around inside loosens the comb and it drops into the dish. The ridge makes it impossible for the box to slide into the dish, and the height of the dish fits the honey square so that the honey is kept in the comb. They are also showing a dish for strained honey. This is round, with a cover, and is slotted to admit a ladle. This dish may also be used as a marmalade jar.

An early morning scene, with mallard ducks flying over a background of the sun rising over a blue lake, edged with rushes and cattails, painted in soft colors, decorates a new liquor set by Cambridge. All of the liquor glasses are included, i.e., cocktail shaker, bitters bottle, cigarette box and ash tray. This set is very beautiful as well as very unusual." September 1934

All of the preceding were taken from features and columns appearing in "Crockery And Glass Journal" and were not taken from paid Cambridge advertisements. The writers would visit the Cambridge showrooms (and those of other companies) and then write these feature articles or columns from which these items were taken. Often lines and pieces were described in general terms and without giving specific item and line numbers, leaving researchers today to speculate on specific decoration, etching, cutting or item being discussed. Many of the specific items and lines mentioned in this article are to be found in the 1930-34 Cambridge Catalog as reprinted by NCC.