The Lure of Cranberry Glass
A Passion for Cranberry
I have always loved Cranberry glass and like many collectors have a large selection of jugs, glasses, bowls and vases which I use to decorate my home. When used on a dining table the rich, bold and eye catching hues can create a really stunning tablescape, whatever the season and when displayed on shelves can give a really a fabulous pop of colour.
It is believed the creation of cranberry glass dates back to around the 1600s, though some speculate that it actually dates back to ancient times but didn’t make a resurgence until the 1600s. Though its origin is open to some debate, its peak popularity is widely agreed upon as during the Victorian era and, of course, it is still incredibly popular today.
While Victorian cranberry glass is still found in antique shops there are also a lot of newer items around. Pilgrim Glass Company in the USA produced cranberry glass items until 2001 when the company sadly closed. Another large manufacturer also in the States was The Fenton Art Glass Company, founded in 1905, this too has also now closed. They were renowned for amazing opalescent decoration featuring the popular hobnail, coin dot, and daisy patterns.
How is it made
Cranberry glass is made by adding gold chloride to hot molten glass and due to the high cost of the gold it is made by small ‘craft’ production rather than large quantities. There are large variety of shades available from hot pink, raspberry and rose through to a beautiful dark burgundy.
It has never been easy to manufacture cranberry glass, as a slight mistake in the formulation would ‘muddy’ a batch and make it useless. It is believed as many as 26 skilled artisans were involved in the production of one piece of Fenton glassware from blowing to finishing. In the finest pieces, no ash, chips or unpolished markings should be visible. This includes the pontil, a rough spot on the bottom of a glass piece that looks broken and chipped when not polished. All blown glass items have a pontil where the finished glass was separated from the blowing rod after completion. In quality pieces the pontil will be polished smooth.
Whether you prefer simple clean lines or ornate detailing there’s a fabulous piece of cranberry glass out there to suit everyone. And remember, when you do find your perfect piece it’s comes with an incredible history, an extraordinary level of craftsmanship and a hidden touch of gold.
Most items in the cranberry cabinet are for sale, please enquire.
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