Antique Crystal & Ruby Etched Stemware and Service Bell

Antique Crystal & Ruby Etched Stemware and Service Bell

Beautiful hand-blown, hand-etched antique crystal stemware. Made in the 1920’s to early 1930’s, before the Great Depression and after the first World War. The glass reflects purple highlights under black light which reveals there is no ‘magnesium’ in the recipe, a mineral used to replace lead during the Wars and Depression. This helps date the set to before the 2nd World War and after the 1st World War.

Each is hand-etched with a striped draped band and dangling circles above floral and leaf sprays. The etching is slightly different on each. It’s the same pattern, but since it was hand-etched slight variances occur. The bowls have vertical optic panels. The crystal feet and bell are red. Red glass gets its color from the recipe (usually including real gold) and by reaching a certain temperature. If the temperature is not exact, a bit of yellow will show (which is how most ‘amberina’ colored glass is achieved). One foot on one glass has a glow of yellow in the center. The rest are solid red. The stem is ‘drawn’ from the bowl when it was blown. The feet were made separately and applied to the stem. Each has a slight size variance, also due to the handmade nature. The bell has some tiny trapped air bubbles in the handle (common in old blown glass). The long darkened are on the bell’s handle in image 5 is a reflection from the stemware, as is the red spots seen on the clear glass. The bell itself answered a long-standing question as to why antique bells are often found without the ringer and without an apparent ‘connection’ point for a ringer. The crude ringer was applied by adhesive, which had aged and caused the ringer to fall off. We have repaired the ringer with modern adhesive.

Large sized cocktail glasses measure approx. 6.5″ tall with a 4″ wide bowl. The bell measures 6″ tall. Set includes FIVE cocktail glasses and ONE service bell.

Maker is currently unknown. We believe they were made in America by a fine elegant maker such as Louie Glass, Fostoria Glass, Duncan Miller or Cambridge.