Ginni's Collectors Circle & Bohemian Boutique

I am not an expert on any of these subjects. Corporate History: 1818 The New England Glass Company was founded in East Cambridge, Massachusetts by Deming Jarves and associates. In the 1870's William & Edward Libbey purchased The New England Glass Company. 1888 the company moved it to Toledo, Ohio. 1892 The name was changed to Libbey Glass Company. 1948 Libbey (Owens-Illinois) bought the Cataract-Sharpe company. It became the Sharpe subsidiary.        1914 Cataract Glass Company was founded by Alfred Sharpe in Buffalo, New York.        1920 the name was changed to Cataract-Sharpe Manufacturing. At some point Libbey Glass Company became Owens Illinois Glass Company with the Libbey Glass Division. It is still in business today. Manufacturing and Product History: 1820 to 1920 cut glass was the main product. The products were made from inexpensive lead glass. The cutting--engraving--was done with a challenging copper-wheel procedure. It is the finest and most detailed type of engraving. Libbey's brilliant cut glass pieces are in museums, referred to as "American Brilliant Glass." 1924 Libbey introduced a guaranteed chip-resistant rim called "Safedge Glassware." In the 1930's Libbey tried to renew fine glassware with its Libbey-Nash line. 1940 to the end of WWII Modern America was introduced; it was a thin line of table services and decorative pieces in clear and colored crystal. This was Libbey's last hand-crafted glass. The joining of Libbey Glass and Cataract-Sharpe created the premier line of Libbey Rock Sharpe Crystal. Owens-Illinois discontinued the Sharpe cut crystal line. Cataract-Sharpe was a high quality engraving company producing intricate deep cut crystal patterns. The designs were ornate and brilliantly polished. It was promoted as Rock Sharpe Crystal in the 30's and 40's. Blanks were purchased from Libbey and others. Replacements Ltd has many Libbey Rock Sharpe pieces identified. However, the stem numbers 1001 - 3011 are Replacement's stem codes, not Libbey's stem numbers. Stem numbers K11-K9058 and 3400-7900 are Libbey stem numbers as well as the 1818 line. Libbey Rock Sharpe - Stem: 3006 & Pattern: Caprice This is a fine leaded crystal with intricate deeply engraved designs. The pattern has flowers, leaves, vines, and crosshatch details. This pattern is one of few that have engraved bands around the bowl. The bowl has 8 bands and sits on a ball connected with two bands above and below, then joined to the hex shaped stem that ends with 3 more bands before connecting to the base. My adoptive mother received new as wedding gifts in 1941.   Extra Pieces are for sale in the Boutique     American Crystal & Glass *  Libbey Rock Sharpe Crystal *  Hazel-Atlas Glass *  Indiana Glass   Contact Me

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