During the first decade of the 20th century, Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company continued to enjoy the sweet success of an established business with quality products. But in the 1920s, with electricity now in most homes, the need for oil and gas lighting lessened and profits began to slow. In order to increase sales they had to diversify.

A lead designer, Reuben Haley, convinced management to launch an affordable giftware line. It was his innovative designs that led Consolidated to regain profits and reestablish itself as a premier glass house. From 1926 to 1929, Consolidated introduced over seven giftware lines that were sold in department stores all over the country. I have chosen to focus on three very different lines: “Martele,” “Catalonian,” and “Ruba Rombic.”

The “Martele” Line

Ruben Haley’s designs were influenced greatly by an exposition in Paris in 1925. The exposition had the top designers from all over the world competing and showcasing their “moderne” wares. One glass designer emerged overwhelmingly as the best at this exposition – Rene Lalique. Reuben brought back Lalique’s ideas and actually copied some of his patterns. In 1926, Consolidated introduced their “Martele” sculptured artware line. This line had raised molded designs of birds, flowers, insects, fruit and people. Their Love Birds vase was an exact copy of the Lalique Perruches design. Other pieces, such as the Bird of Paradise, Le Fleur, and Katydid vases had close connections to Lalique originals.

They not only made Martele vases, but also expanded to tableware and smoking sets. This line was popular and the original molds were passed to other glass companies (Phoenix and Fenton) when Consolidated closed its doors.

The “Catalonian” Line

“Catalonian” was introduced in 1927 as a “reproduction of old Spanish glass.” The design, also by Haley, consisted of swirls and bubbles that gave it a crude, rustic feel. Haley was granted several patents for his design and manufacturing processes of the “Catalonian” line. This glass was blown and generally has rough pontil marks. They produced a full line of dinnerware, serving pieces, and gift items. It was available in green and crystal glass as well as a variety of finishes from common light color washes (yellow, purple and green), to less common darker washes (cobalt and ruby), to rare rainbow highlighting (a combination of three colors). “Catalonian” was Consolidated’s most popular and profitable line.

The “Ruba Rombic” Line

In 1928, Consolidated launched a spectacular and unique line that created a quite a stir when it was launched at a glass show in Pittsburgh. “Ruba Rombic” was so innovative that the company touted it (actually adding the phrase to its label) as “an epic in modern art.” The name comes from “rubiay,” which means epic, and “rhomboid,” which means irregular in shape with no parallel lines. This original design by Reuben Haley was granted three separate patents.

The line was very extensive, consisting of tablewares (plates, tumblers, pitchers, serving pieces), powder jars, perfumes, cigarette boxes, and even fishbowls. The color names that the company chose were just as captivating as the glass: Jungle Green, Smokey Topaz, Jade, Lilac, Sunshine, Silver, and Silver Cloud. (Rare pieces have been found in red, black, vaseline and opal.) “Ruba Rombic” epitomizes the Art Deco era with its irregular angles and strong forms.

Even though the glass had fascinating appeal, it was not a success. It was expensive and time consuming to produce. In the manufacturing, the pieces often broke when coming off of the molds because of the acute angles of the fragile glass. The nation was beginning to enter the Depression, and Consolidated stopped producing “Ruba Rombic” three years after it was introduced.

Consolidated Ceases Production

With the Great Depression in full swing, Consolidated Glass Company closed its doors in 1932. “Ruba Rombic” and “Catalonian” would not be produced ever again, but many of the “Martele” molds went to Phoenix Glass Company in Monaca, PA. Phoenix produced the glassware until Consolidated was reopened in 1937 and they returned the molds.

Consolidated Glass made from 1926 to 1931 is highly sought after by collectors. Many museums (Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Greentown Glass Museum, and the Corning Museum of Glass) have Consolidated’s art glass in their permanent collections. Even though the company has closed its doors, it lives on through its timeless works.

References

National Depression Glass Association

Article on Ruba Rombic by Barbara Norman

Phoenix and Consolidated Art Glass By Jack Wilson

Kirkland Museum Collection – Denver, CO

Phoenix and Consolidated Glass Collectors Club

Museum of Fine Arts Houston – Houston TX

This is the first of a series of articles on the Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company. Over the next few weeks I will cover the Art Deco period and art glass giftware line.

History

Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company was established in 1893 when two firms, Wallace and McAfee Company of Pittsburgh and Fostoria Shade &Lamp Company of Ohio, merged. They began production at the old plant in Ohio, but after a devastating fire in 1895, relocated to Coraopolis, Pa. where a large, new factory was built.

The main wares produced by Consolidated were lamps, globes, and shades. They made both decorative and utilitarian globes for commercial and residential lighting. In addition, they made pattern glass tableware including sugar shakers, butter dishes and pitcher sets. By 1910, Consolidated Glass and Lamp Company was the largest lighting glass company in the United States and employed over 400 workers.

Production

The intricate patterns that were produced at the factory showcased the designs that were in fashion during the Victorian period. They hired some of the most skilled mold designers of the time to develop patterns exclusive to Consolidated. Their “Gone with the Wind” style lamps were decorated with lions, ornate masks, and foliage designs on the molded glass. Their tableware patterns were less-fussy designs such as cones, feather, and loop patterns.

Consolidated offered a variety of colors, including crystal, canary yellow, and ruby red were favorites. Also popular were apple green, mandarin orange and sky blue. Much of their production was milk glass, also referred to as “opal.”. They also made cased-glass pieces, which were simply layering two colors of glass.

Consolidated decorated and applied finishes to much of its glass “in-house.” Items were acid-etched and hand-painted in decorating rooms. They took pride in their craftsmanship and fire polished all edges by hand. They also carefully hand-applied scenic transfers and gold gilding. One particularly popular pattern at the turn of the century was Cosmos, produced in both milk glass and crystal. The decorators hand-painted the petals on the flowers in soft pastel colors.

In the early years, Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company produced large quantities of good quality decorative lamps, lighting fixtures, and table wares. Because their production was extensive, pieces are readily available in the antiques marketplace today.

Collecting Consolidated glass

The most important thing to do when collecting early Consolidated glass is to educate youself. Learn how to recognize the sizes, finishes, and colors produced by the company. Study collections held in at museums, such as the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, and the Corning Museum in New York.

The Phoenix and Consolidated Collectors Club is a group that helps further the knowledge and understanding of Consolidated and Phoenix glass (a related company to be discussed in an upcoming article). They publish a quarterly newsletter with in-depth articles and host an annual convention which has glass displays and lectures. Past lecturers have been authors, collector, and even past factory employees. By joining a group of fellow collectors, you establish a network of people with the same interests that can help you in identifying and evaluating your pieces.

It is also important that you buy from a reputable dealer or auction house. A dealer should be willing to discuss the history and background of the pieces they sell. Ask questions before you buy and examine pieces thoroughly, as a slight chip or crack can devalue pieces greatly. Beware: several pieces of Consolidated have been reproduced and vary only slightly from the originals.

Resources

There are some great resources available both online and in print. Some websites include:

Phoenix and Consolidated Collector’s club (http://home.earthlink.net/~jdwilson1/pcgcc.htm),
Fostoria Glass Museum
(http://www.fostoriaglass.org/),
Corning Museum of Glass
(http://collection.cmog.org/main.php?module=objects)

Reference books include:
Opalescent Pattern Glass by Marion Hartung
19th Century Patterned Art Glass Chamber Lamps by Ron Gibson
Antique Kerosene & Oil Lamps Guide Vol. 1 by Catherine Thuro
Antique Kerosene & Oil Lamps Guide Vol. 2 by Catherine Thuro