Gillinder & Sons Glassmakers

Q I inherited a frosted glass figurine of a young girl in a long dress. She’s kneeling on one knee and has a bouquet in one hand and several stalks in the other. It’s 4 inches high and has raised letters on the base that say ”Gillinder & Sons” and ”Centennial Exhibition.” Can you tell me something about it and its worth?

A William T. Gillinder (1823-1871) opened his glass factory in Philadelphia in 1861. It became Gillinder & Sons in 1867. Most of the buildings were destroyed by a fire in 1929 and the company was out of business by the early 1930s. Gillinder & Sons was one of several glassmakers exhibiting at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. The company built a small glassmaking factory on the fairgrounds, where they made and sold souvenir glass. Your glass figurine is called ”Ruth, The Gleaner.” Value: $100 to $150.