CAMBRIDGE GLASS COMPANY
1901 to 1958
Cambridge Glass Co. was one of the major American elegant glass makers which dominated the home glassware market during the first half of the 20th Century. Offering blown, mold blown, pressed and molded glassware in a large range of colors and patterns.
The company was instrumental in bringing elegant glass, once available only to the wealthy, to an affordable level for the masses. Founded in Ohio, U.S.A by the National Glass Co. in 1901. The National Glass Company was a coalition of glass makers which joined together to survive economic crises and foreign competition in the late 1800’s.
By the 1920s the economy was roaring and Cambridge Glass was a major supplier of art deco glass. After the stock market crash of 1929 through WWII, Cambridge Glass provided elegant Depression glass made with manganese in place of lead which was then reserved for the war effort. After the war, modernism ideals shaped the fashions and Cambridge elegant glass began to decline in popularity.
Imports from all over the world competed with American made glass and by 1958 the company was closed. As one of the major glass makers in the first half of the 20th century, Cambridge offered dining and decor glassware in Art Nouveau, the short-lived Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, Depression and Modernism periods. Their forms, colors and decor reflect the popular style of the specific periods.
Cambridge glass is widely collected today. A multitude of shapes, colors and styles can be found. Some can be identified by a ‘C’ enclosed in a triangle embossed in the glass, but most had only a paper label.
Retro Art Glass offers a large selection of authentic antique, vintage and retro glassware and art glass by famous makers of the past. Visit Retro Art Glass at https://www.retroartglass.com and browse through hundreds of fascinating and available glass objects from years gone by.