Apr 10, 2019
Issue 3170
Here’s an update to my question about the console set that I posted a few weeks ago. At that time I was aware of a set in celeste blue being offered as Steuben and one of your members pointed out another one being sold elsewhere that had a Steuben label. However, some question was raised about that label, which seemed rather heavily worn, despite the fact that it was on the bottom of the slightly concave base in a place where it would not come into contact with the surface and one would expect it to be much less worn.
Gerry Eggert then posted that he had given a set to the New Bedford Museum that he had purchased as Pairpoint. I contacted Marion Frost, co-author of the Pairpoint books, and with her permission, here is the response I received from her:
“As to the bowl and candles, these are not documented as they exist within my 1500 catalog pages, but my very strong opinion is that they were made (by?) at Pairpoint. The Canaria color looks right without a doubt. The bowl is basically the A1065 form. The candle contains component elements and design influences you would expect to find on Pairpoint products. In my experience as an observer, except for Union Glass, no other manufacturer made items that look like Pairpoint. Sure, there are some common shapes that are generic, but for the most part, Pairpoint has its own “look.” Union made many similar shapes, but your examples are not correct for Union’s version of Vaseline/Amber. I presume both items have polished pontils. In my humble opinion, I think these are of Pairpoint origin. I would probably have a stronger opinion if I had them in my hands. Pairpoint was virtually unlimited in what they did for private requests.”
Marion is correct that the pieces all have polished pontils.
Tom Felt