Triangle C Finds - Article No. 1

by Joseph A.A. Bourque Sr.
Issue No. 114 - October 1982

Editor's Note: This is the first of a series of articles authored by Joseph A.A. Bourque Sr., and pertaining to the Cambridge Glass Company of Cambridge, Ohio. They are being printed herein through the courtesy and permission of DEPRESSION GLASS DAZE, a monthly publication devoted to the study and trade primarily of glass made during the depression and the years following.

This article is about the Cambridge Glass Company of Cambridge, Ohio. This glass company was incorporated in 1901 and flourished for five decades until it went out of business in 1954.

Various items were made in clear, translucent, and opaque glass. Besides clear, white and black glass, Cambridge made glass of several distinct colors.

Their famous trademark is the letter "C" confined within an equilateral triangle. Not all items bear this signature.

Cambridge glass collectors acquire this glass for different reasons. Some collect if for speculation, some to keep it and some for immediate re-sale. Some only collect a certain pattern, be it pressed, free-blown or mold blown. Others only collect a certain acid etched pattern, while others only collect a certain color. Most Cambridge glass collectors, however, collect the general line, (anything, as long as it is Cambridge) and procure it simply because it is Cambridge glass which rests on its own laurels, being a glass of excellent quality and in many instances a glass of art. There is no question it is quickly becoming an attractive collectible falling under the category of an antiquity, thus enhancing its current value.

I started collecting Cambridge glass about five years ago. My objective, at that time, was to gather enough, in order to sell it by an auction sale. As time passed, however, I became aware this glass was of a better quality than the average American glass.

I still save Cambridge glass, but for a different reason. The more pieces I purchased, the more I liked and appreciated it until it became an infatuation which turned to admiration and attraction. I became a collector.

I visit local shops, flea markets, shows and the various house sales in search of this glass which emanated from this mid-eastern city in Ohio. When I purchase a good "find" I become exhilarated. When I get home I clean it, display it and enjoy it. Whether I paid little or top dollar is of no importance. I become greedy in wondering where and when I will acquire my next piece of Cambridge. Place these symptoms together and this mania is diagnosed as "Cambridge Collectors' Syndrome" (CCS). If you have these salubrious signs, you too are a Cambridge addict.

In my hunting area, which is southeast New Hampshire and northeast Massachusetts, most collectible glass is getting scarce and highly priced. Cambridge glass, in most instances, seems to be an exception to this. Not that there is an abundance of it, but there is enough around in order that a collector can purchase one or two items per week. This makes it exciting and worthwhile.

Cambridge glass is still generally unknown to many dealers, especially when it is not marked. Most of the better pieces of Cambridge glass are not marked with the "C" in the triangle. As a result, collectors can pick more "sleepers."

By attending the various sales which are available in my hunting grounds, I gain the current price trends of many collectibles. Also, since I am a practicing licensed auctioneer in a good area for antiques and collectibles, I receive many housecalls to buy and sell through auction. This exposure, plus keeping abreast of current prices in local and national papers, magazines, bulletins, publications and price guides, allows me to reach a close or true figure of appraisal for most collectibles, not to exclude Cambridge. Through these articles, I wish to share my "finds" and any information I have gained, which may not be common knowledge.

Two Kids flower frog During a weekend, as I entered the door of a local inside antique show, I had to stand in line in order to purchase my entrance ticket. As I stood there, I cast my eyes across a nearby table. I did a double take and could hardly believe what I saw. It was a statue which appeared to be a Cambridge flower holder. What excited me most of all was its color.

Needless to say, I became quite anxious by the time my turn arrived to pay my entrance fee and to get to that particular booth, hoping that it would not sell before I had a chance to purchase it. I even thought of making a breach of the door and coming back to pay. This "CCS" is a bad disease. The ticket seller seemed extra slow on this particular Sunday morning. Finally, I was able to secure admission and hurried to this booth which had already become crowded. I eventually came to the statue, and as callously as I could bear, I reached out and picked it up. My hands did not shake as I held it, but they should have.

The item was indeed a most gorgeous Cambridge figural flower holder, as I had never before seen. The price tag bore two numbers, $30-$15, the larger one having been crossed out. It had been marked down 50%. Either price was a "steal." I happily purchased the item. I also received a $2.50 discount. The dealer informed me he had lowered the price because he had become tired of looking at it. This was difficult for me to understand. It had been displayed on several occasions (not in this area) and, according to the dealer, it had generated but little interest. The item was "as is," having a crack in the base. As I left the booth the dealer bade me "Have a good day." How could I miss after such a start?

Now, that figural flower holder is not an average holder. It was the "Two Kids" figural flower holder of a nude little girl holding a baby goat, surely alluding to "Gentle Innocence." All above the base is in pristine condition. This particular item is a rarity in itself, and this fact is compounded because the color is odd in that it has a pale green hue. It is near-opaque and when placed against the light, its edges become fiery opalescent. It stands 8¾" tall.

There was still another surprise in store. After I cleaned it at home, I discovered the inner hollowed base bore the following embossed writing: "PAT. NO. 1645577." (The 6 could be a misshapen 5.) This patent number was issued by the United States Patent Office in the year 1927.

In mint condition I would appraise this item at the $300 mark.

I would like to hear from each of you who have this particular "Two Kid" figural holder, regardless of color or size. As of this writing, it is the only known to this writer in this color.

As a sequel to these articles, all the information gained from letters I receive will be sent to the Daze to be shared with you all, and the National Cambridge Collectors, Inc. for the sake of documentation and posterity.

I'll be writing to you next month about another Cambridge find.

Editor's Note: Following are Addenda prepared by Mr. Bourque as a sequel to questions and comments he received concerning his article No. 1 on Triangle C. Finds.

Addendum 1-A - BASES AND COLORATION

The Two Kid figural flower holder has two types of bases.

  • Base #2 (Designated by NCC). This is a round base as shown in my Two Kid article.
  • Base, oval, Self-explanatory.

While there are 16 known figural flower holders, the #2 base is found on eleven (11) of these. The oval base is found on but two (2) of them, namely the 8½" Draped Lady and the Two Kid holder.

The #2 base Two Kid holder comes in the following colors: Crystal, Crystal Satin, Amber, Amber Satin, Moonlight Blue, Willow Blue, Emerald Green (light), Emerald Green Satin, Peachblo, Peachblo Satin, Dianthus Pink, Dianthus Pink Satin and Ivory. (*)

The oval base Two Kid holder is known to be in but three colors: Amber, Peachblo and Dianthus Pink.

* It is not yet determined which color the Two Kid I wrote about really is, but it does not appear to be any of the above. It is pale green in color.

The preceding information was available from a chart compiled by the National Cambridge Collectors.

Addendum 1-B - U.S. PATENT NUMBER

It is interesting to note that the U.S. Patent number 1645577 appears on figural bases numbers, 1, 2 and 3. No mention is made by NCC that this number appears on the Oval base or the Screw base.

I have received a letter from a collector who claims to have the same flower in pink, but with the oval base which bears the identical patent number.

This patent number was issued in 1927.

Some bases bear the patent number, others do not.

Addendum 1-C - VALUE OF IVORY COLOR

In the Two Kid article, I listed the value of the holder with a green hue, translucent at $300.00 in perfect condition. According to NCC I apparently was off on my figure. They list a figure of $800 depending on how bad the base is damaged, and they believe it to be Ivory in color and not green.

NCC claims that an early powder and perfumer in the Ivory color has been seen by them bearing a slight tint of green, "which tint is so slight that the color is not considered to be anything other than Ivory."

I have not seen these two items so I cannot comment either way. My holder is not Ivory, but it is pale green. I don't think I could agree on an item bearing a slight tint of green as being Ivory.

Addendum 1-D - MATCHING YOUR HOLDER WITH A BOWL AND/OR CANDLESTICKS

I have been asked about matching a Two Kid figural flower holder with a bowl. Actually any of the following can apply, but in order for a holder to compliment a bowl and a pair of candleholders, certain measures should apply.

  1. Colors should match
  2. If a bowl has a design, the pair of candleholders should have the same design.
  3. Plain (void of design) bowls should have plain candleholders.
  4. The base of the flower holder should fit the well of the bowl.
  5. A round bowl may have round top or base candleholders or different shaped candlesticks such as the Decagon pattern.
  6. A bowl shaped in any but a round pattern, such as Decagon may have matching Decagon candlesticks or round top and base candlesticks.
  7. Waterfall type bowls need not match waterfall type candlesticks.
  8. Single, two-branch, or three-branch candlesticks may accompany any type bowl, but of course, the above rules should apply and they must be Cambridge.
  9. Figural Flower Holders can be interchanged with flower blocks and other types of figural flower holders.

*It is unknown by this writer if translucent holders were placed in a different colored bowl, or vice versa. It would seem that elegant centerpieces or table centers could be achieved with mixed but complimentary colors.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, "CAMBRIDGE CRYSTAL BALL", December 1982

Dear Peg,

Enjoyed reading the article on the Two Kid flower figure by Joseph Bourque. This is indeed a hard figurine to find. However, it should be noted that several of these are known in this color which is definitely ivory. Generally, ivory is a typical custard color glass, but in certain items such as the flower figures and the Dolphin candlesticks, ivory often displays a distinct greenish grey. Possibly pouring this color in molds such as these caused this color variation. The same variation occurs in the crown tuscan flower figures which are all off color from the typical colors of crown tuscan. The crown tuscan ones have deep orange streaks and tinges to them.

As to the valuation of the figurine, one must remember that damage will greatly affect the price. As far as I know there is no listing by NCC that this figurine would be worth $800 even in perfect condition. Of course, the value of an item is strictly a matter of opinion.

As to matching the Two Kid flower figurine, one could use it with any bowl and candlesticks that one wishes. However, the correct bowl to be used with the Two Kid is the one which Cambridge called a flip bowl. Mr. Bourque referred to this as a waterfall bowl, I believe. This bowl is shown in a variety of places in the NCC Catalog Reprint 1930-34 and is numbered 676-11½" bowl, plain shape or 856-11" bowl, Decagon shape.

I hope that I have clarified these areas. Incidentally, the 8½" and 13½" Draped Lady as well as the Rose Lady flower figures were produced in Ivory.

Regards,

Lynn Welker