Degenhart Mark

Q: This D” inside a heart mark is on a heart-shaped glass paperweight. Can you tell me who made it and how old it is?

 

A: This “D” in heart mark was used by the Crystal Art Glass Company, a company founded by John and Elizabeth Degenhart in Cambridge, Ohio, in 1947. After John died in 1964, his wife continued to run the business. The factory closed after Elizabeth’s death in 1978 and the molds were sold to Bernard C. Boyd, who founded Boyd’s Crystal Art Glass. Pieces made by Boyd from the Degenhart molds don’t have the “D” in a heart mark. Smaller “reproductions” of Degenhart pieces were made by Mosser Glass for the Degenhart Museum. They are marked with an underlined “D” in a heart. The museum closed in 2011. The heart-shaped paperweight was designed by Elizabeth Degenhart and first made in 1970. The Governor of Ohio named her as Ohio’s “First Lady of Glass” in 1975.

 

Pyrex Stamped JAJ

Q: A friend of mine has a huge set of china (at least, I think it’s china) marked “JAJ” over a crown and “Made in England.” Can you tell us the maker and possibly the history behind it?

 

A: Your friend has a set of Pyrex, not china, made by James A. Jobling, a company in Sunderland, England. Pyrex is a heat-resistant glass first made in 1915 by the Corning Glass Works. James A. Jobling obtained the right to make Pyrex in 1921 and began producing it in 1922. The company became part of Corning, Ltd. in 1973. The Jobling factory was sold to the Newell Company in 1994. Arc International, a French company, bought Newell’s European division and the licenses for Pyrex in 2005. The Sunderland plant was closed in 2007 and production moved to France. Pyrex is no longer made in England.

 

PMR Perfume Bottle

Q: Who made this perfume bottle? It’s marked “PMR Bavaria.” 

A: This mark was used by Porcelain Factory Marktredwitz Jaeger & Co. The company was founded in Marktredwitz, Bavaria, in 1902. Decorative porcelain, gift items, coffee and tea sets, and household and hotel porcelain were made. The company was sold to Sebring, a company in Bari, Italy, in 1979 and became Jaeger Porcelain GMBH. Jaeger Porcelain closed in 1986.

Beam Decanter

Q: I’d like to know something about this decanter. It’s marked “Modern Masters, Collector’s Edition, Volume IV.” How much is it worth?

A: Your decanter is part of the Modern Masters series issued by the James B. Beam Distilling Company. Decanters in the series were decorated with paintings by “the masters,” well-known European artists. Nineteen “volumes” were issued between 1966 and 1983. Volume IV contained eight different decanters. Your decanter pictures “Sunflowers,” an 1888 painting by Vincent Van Gogh. Modern Masters decanters are easy to find today and sell for less than $20.

Knife Sharpener

Q: Can you shed some light on what this is and who the maker is? The blade section has 6 sides. Any idea what it may be worth, even though it’s in rough shape?

A: This is a simple knife sharpener, part of a carving set that included a carving knife and meat fork. The blade is made of cast steel. It has a bone handle with a sterling silver end. The diamond-shaped mark is an English registry mark indicating the design was registered in March 1892. A carving set with the matching knife sharpener is worth $150. The knife sharpener alone, about $25.

Universal Food Chopper

Q: This Universal grinder belonged to my mother. I’m 92 years old, so I know this grinder is very old. It’s heavy and is marked “Universal” and “L.F. & C., New Britain, Conn., USA.” What is it worth?

A: The Universal food chopper was made by Landers, Frary & Clark. George Landers began making hardware in 1842. The business became Landers & Smith Manufacturing Company in 1853. The company bought Frary, Clark & Company in 1862, becoming Landers, Frary & Clark. The “Universal” line of household products was introduced in the 1890s. The food chopper or grinder was made beginning in 1897 and similar versions were made until at least the late 1950s. The grinder included three blades and could chop vegetables or grind meat. In 1965, General Electric bought Landers, Frary & Clark’s inventory, equipment and assets, including the “Universal” trademark. Universal food choppers sell online for about $15 to $20.

 

 

Schmidtmann Bottle

Q: I have an old blue green bottle with an applied blob top. It has seams on both sides and a smooth bottom. It’s about seven inches long and is inscribed “H. Schmidtmann, 413 E. 24th St., New York” and “H.S. 1874.” Can you give me any information on this bottle?

A: H. Schmidtmann was in business from 1864 to 1875, so “1874” may have been the date of manufacture. No other information on this company is available. Blob top soda and mineral water bottles were first made in the 1840s. Later, some blob top bottles were made for beer. Most blob top bottles are pony shape, like yours, with sloping shoulders and were blown in a mold. Your bottle probably originally had a cork closure held in place by a wire bail looped around the blob top. Bottles like yours occasionally show up online and sell for less than $20.

 

Rosenthal Crystal

Q: My mother had this etched crystal vase for many years but couldn't find who the maker was. It's marked with a crown over a fancy letter "R." Can you tell me who made it and how old it is?

A: Your vase is probably a goblet made by Rosenthal, a company founded by Philipp Rosenthal in Germany about 1880. Rosenthal is best known for its porcelain and didn't begin to make glass until 1957. This cut and engraved pattern is called Romanze (Romance). It was designed by Bjorn Wiinblad (1918 – 2006) and made in the 1960s to go with a dinnerware pattern he also designed for Rosenthal.

 

Honeycomb Pitcher

Q: This glass pitcher has been in my family for over 100 years. It originally belonged to my great-grandmother and eventually passed to me. My father always referred to it as a "beehive" pitcher, presumably because of the pattern in the glass. It's engraved "Pat. 1865" under the handle near the bottom of the pitcher. Does the date tell when it was made? Can you tell us the maker or history of this pitcher?

A: The patent was granted to William T. Gillinder of Philadelphia for "an improvement in blow-pipes" for glassblowers. The tool combined a plunger, blowpipe, and snap clamp that allowed the glassblower to simultaneously shape the object and its attached handle. He claimed it produced "more uniform and better finished articles." The pattern on your pitcher, often called "Honeycomb," was made by several glass companies. It's not possible to tell from a picture which one made your pitcher. It may have been made by Gillinder & Sons. One like it was recently offered for sale at an online shop for $170.

Greener Glass Mark

Q: I have a glass celery vase that has this mark on the bottom. It's a lion with a five-pointed star in his paw. Can you tell me who made it and how old it is?

A: Henry Greener and James Angus worked together in Sunderland, England, as Angus & Greener starting in 1858. After Angus died in 1869, the company became Henry Greener & Co. Greener registered the lion-and-star mark on your celery vase in 1876 and his company used the mark until 1884. James Jobling bought the company in 1885 and changed its trademark to a similar-looking lion holding a halberd (a weapon that combines a spear and a battle-ax). After several changes in ownership and names, the company was sold to Newell Co. in 1994.