Gillinder: American Pressed and Cut Glass from Philadelphia

Gillinder and Sons was a prominent American glass manufacturer established in Philadelphia in 1861 by William T. Gillinder, an English-born glassmaker who had trained at the Bacchus factory in Birmingham. The firm gained national fame at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, where it operated a working glass furnace and sold commemorative pressed glass souvenirs to millions of visitors. Gillinder produced a wide range of pressed, cut, and blown glass through the early 20th century, and its Centennial souvenirs remain among the most recognizable pieces of American commemorative glass.

History and Timeline

• 1861: William T. Gillinder establishes the Franklin Flint Glass Works in Philadelphia
• 1863: Renamed Gillinder and Sons when his sons join the business
• 1876: Operates a glass furnace at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia; sells thousands of pressed glass souvenirs
• 1880s-1890s: Produces pressed pattern glass, cut glass, and specialty items
• 1888: Opens a second factory in Greensburg, Pennsylvania
• 1900s-1912: Continues production; cut glass department produces brilliant-period wares
• 1912: Philadelphia factory closes; Greensburg plant continues limited production
• The firm is best remembered for its Centennial Exhibition souvenirs and pressed glass production

Types and Products

• Centennial souvenirs (1876): Pressed glass busts of Washington and Lincoln, Liberty Bell replicas, slippers, and commemorative items
• Pressed pattern glass: Tableware in various patterns including Lion (also called Frosted Lion), Classic, and Westward Ho
• Cut glass: Brilliant-period cut glass produced at the Philadelphia and Greensburg factories
• Frosted figures: Figural frosted glass items including lion covered dishes and paperweights
• Commemorative pieces: Items produced for expositions, political campaigns, and special events
• Lamp chimneys and specialty glass: Industrial and utilitarian glass products

Identification and Marks

• Most pressed glass pieces are not marked with a factory name
• Centennial souvenirs sometimes bear "GILLINDER" or "GILLINDER & SONS" molded into the glass
• Cut glass may carry an acid-etched "GILLINDER" mark
• The Lion (Frosted Lion) pattern is one of the most recognizable Gillinder designs
• The frosted finish on figural pieces is achieved through acid etching
• Attribution is often based on pattern identification and comparison with documented examples

Auction Price Ranges

Condition Factors

• Pressed glass should be free of chips, cracks, and manufacturing flaws
• The frosted finish on Lion pattern pieces should be intact; worn frosting diminishes appeal
• Covers for covered dishes must be original and matching; replacement lids reduce value significantly
• Cut glass should retain its sharp, crisp cutting; worn or polished-out cuts indicate heavy use
• Centennial souvenirs in excellent condition command premiums; these were heavily handled as fair souvenirs
• Clarity of the glass and sharpness of the mold impressions indicate quality

Collecting Tips

• Centennial Exhibition souvenirs from 1876 are the most historically significant and widely recognized Gillinder products
• The Lion (Frosted Lion) pattern is among the most collected American pressed glass patterns
• The Classic pattern with its classical figural scenes is highly regarded by pattern glass collectors
• Gillinder glass is well documented in American pressed glass reference books
• Centennial souvenirs were produced in large quantities but many survive in poor condition; clean, undamaged examples are worth seeking
• Gillinder brilliant-cut glass is less well known than its pressed glass and can represent good value
• The firm's connection to the 1876 Centennial gives its products significant historical cachet