Libbey Glass Company
Libbey Glass - Description
Libbey Glass is one of the oldest American companies. The Libbey family was already manufacturing glass in the late 1700s and is credited with introducing lead glass to North America.
Libbey Glass - History
In 1818 the New England Glass Company – Libbey’s ancestor – was founded in Cambridge, MA. It was renown for its high quality products and above all for having introduced the process of pressed glass.
In the 1870s the Libbey family became involved with the company. William L. Libbey joined New England Glass as agent in 1870 and in 1878 he leased the company, and changed its name to W.L. Libbey and Son, Proprietors. In 1888 Edward Libbey, William’s son, signed a contract to move the company to Toledo and it was renamed again as Libbey Glass Company.
In the 1920s Libbey operated mainly in the field of restaurant market, which grew further after the repeal of prohibition in 1933. Yet, the effects of the depression were catastrophic and in 1935 Owens-Illinois bought Libbey Glass, which became an owned subsidiary, operating as the Libbey Glass Division.
In the 1950s Libbey focused on the household market for glassware, a strategy that resulted in a period of solid sales growth.
In the following decades the market was stagnant. Owens-Illinois, full of debts, decided to sell the Libbey Glass Division as Libbey Inc. in 1993. Over the next two decades, Libbey operated individually, acquiring Syracuse China and Anchor Hocking.
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Libbey Glass Company In Price Guide
Libbey Glass - Identification & Value
Libbey Glass Company mainly manufactured pressed and blown glass.
It is renowned for its cut glass, that is very resistant and does not lose its clarity during the years.
In the so-called “Brilliant Period” (1876-1920ca.), Libbey was the largest cut glass maker in the world. Libbey cut glass is heavy and thick, with a sparkling surface. The company hired the best craftsmen and designers, including William Marrett (1897-1903) who designed the best selling Chrysanthemum pattern, mostly used for ornamental vases. The design presents very finely cut flowers all over the glass surface. Other popular patterns include Colonna, a geometrical and floral design; Harvard, used for tablewares, consisting of diamonds and stars; and Kimberly, with a central hob-star, surrounded by circles and diamonds. All these patterns are sought by collectors and the items can be pretty expensive.
Libbey continued producing cut glass in the 1930s and 1940s. One of the most popular patterns during this period was Wisteria. It was mainly used for bowls, dishes, and pitchers since the motif needs a large surface to be properly visible. The pattern presents two lovebirds on a branch surrounded by leaves and twigs.
In 1933 Douglas Nash, a former Tiffany designer, was hired by Libbey to create a new line of luxury stemware, that consists of eighty-two cut and engraved different patterns mainly inspired by Art Nouveau designs. The intricate surface details of Nash pieces were sometimes enhanced with colored parts. The most successful products were Victoria cameo engraved chalice; Embassy, with a flat column stems and clear glass; Figural stem wine/cocktail glass, whose stems are shaped in different animal figures. These products had little market in the Depression years and ceased production in 1935.
During this period Libbey released a notable promotional tie-in with Walt Disney’s success Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Countless items, mainly tableware, featuring characters from the animated film were produced and sold across the US. The line was extremely popular and is still sought by collectors. Thanks to this market success and consequent financial improvement, Libbey could return to fine glass market and released a new line of crystal, Modern American, that consists of a swirled design mostly used for vases and bowls.
In 1945 Libbey launched pre-packed sets of eight tumblers known as Hostess Sets, that were a great success. They present a great variety of styles and colored designs, including birds and other animals, flowers and leaves, carousels, stars, human figures.
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Libbey Glass - Marks
Libbey Glass Company adopted a variety of trademarks, that changed over time.
The first one one, used from 1896 to 1906, is known as Libbey Sword Signature Trademark. It consists of the name “Libbey” in script, over a sword – symbolic of the steel swords of Toledo, Spain.
In 1906-1919 a new mark was released. It is very similar to the previous one, and shows the same handwritten style world “Libbey,” but without the sword.
In 1900-1910 Libbey also used an oval label with the written “Libbey Made in U.S.A. Trade Mark.”
In 1919-1945 the Company changed its mark again. The new label shows the world “Libbey” inside a circle, and was released in two slightly different versions: in the first one (1920-1930s) the circle is black and thick, while in the second one (1939-1945) the circle is empty and consists of two inscribed circumferences. Sometimes (especially from 1937 to 1945) they also adopted a smaller version, with only an uppercase cursive “L” inside the circle.
The Libbey Safedge mark was adopted from 1946 to 1959. Inside a black circle the word “Libbey” is written above, while “Safedge” lies below.
In 1959-1968 Libbey released a mark with the written “Libbey” inside an oval shape designed by two swords.
The last mark (1968-present) consists of the written “Libbey®” inside a rectangular shape.
In addition, Libbey released special marks for some lines, as the Eagle Trademark, used for cut glass from 1892 to 1896 (circular in form, “Libbey Cut Glass Toledo” is written around the circle, while its inner part shows an eagle and the written “Trade Mark”); “Libbey Crystal” (with the written “Libbey Crystal” inside a black circle) for their crystal lines; and the “Libbey Heat-Treated” (with the written “Libbey Heat-Treated” inside a black circle, with “Heta-Treated” resting on a white frame) for their heat-treated glasses.
Identify your Libbey Glass Company Marks.
Further Reading on Libbey Glass
In the WorthPoint Library
E. Ezell, G. Newhouse, Cruets, Cruets, Cruets, vol. II, Marietta, Ohio, 1993
Books and Periodicals
C.U. Fauster, Libbey Glass Since 1818: Pictorial History & Collector's Guide, Toledo, Ohio, 1979.
M.L. Swan, American Cut and Engraved Glass. The Brilliant Period in Historical Perspective, Radnor, Pennsylvania 1986
D.J. Shotwell, Glass A to Z, Iola, Wisconsin, 2002.
K. Husfloen, Perfume Bottles: Price Guides, Iola, Wisconsin, 2008
Antique & Collectibles. 2012 Price Guide, Iola, Wisconsin, 2011
Web Resources
Company Histories. Libbey, Inc. Company-histories.com.
Swanson, Frank O. Libbey Glass: One Hundred Years in Toledo 1888-1988. Cutglass.org.
WorthPoint. Ask a Worthologist a Question: Cut Glass Punch Bowl. Worthpoint.com.
Worthpoint. Rare Hawkes Coronet Pattern Tray Tops American Brillant Cut Glass Auction. Worthpoint.com
WorthPoint. Rare Sinclaire Family Heirloom to be Centerpiece of A.B.C. Glass Auction. Worthpoint.com.
MARK OF THE WEEK—CAN YOU IDENTIFY IT? www.worthpoint.com
Related Dictionary Pages: Macbeth-Evans Glass, McKee Glass, Millersburg Glass, Morgantown Glass.