Mt. Washington Glass: Victorian Art Glass from New Bedford, Massachusetts
The Mt. Washington Glass Company (1837-1894) was one of America's most innovative and prestigious art glass manufacturers, producing some of the most coveted glass in the Victorian era. Based in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the company developed several patented glass types -- including Burmese, Crown Milano, Royal Flemish, Albertine, and Peachblow -- that remain among the most desirable categories in American art glass collecting. After merging with the Pairpoint Manufacturing Company in 1894, the combined operation continued producing high-quality glass and silver-plated wares into the twentieth century.
History and Key Figures
- 1837: Deming Jarves founded the Mt. Washington Glass Works in South Boston.
- 1870: The company relocated to New Bedford, Massachusetts, under the leadership of William Libbey and later Frederick Shirley.
- 1885-1894: The golden decade. Frederick Shirley, as agent and designer, patented Burmese glass (1885), developed Crown Milano, Royal Flemish, and other art glass lines that made the company internationally famous.
- 1894: Merged with Pairpoint Manufacturing Company to form Pairpoint Corporation, which continued using many Mt. Washington techniques.
Signature Glass Types
- Burmese: A heat-sensitive glass shading from salmon-pink to pale yellow. Produced in both glossy and satin (acid) finishes. Queen Victoria received a set, boosting its fame. Licensed to Thomas Webb & Sons in England as "Queen's Burmese."
- Crown Milano: An opaque white or cream glass with elaborate hand-painted and gilded decoration, often featuring flowers, scrollwork, or scenes. Pieces frequently have ornate silver-plated mounts and lids.
- Royal Flemish: A stained-glass-like effect achieved by painting raised enamel lines on transparent or tinted glass to create medallions and panels, then filling with colored enamels and gilding.
- Peachblow: A glass shading from deep rose to pale blue-gray, inspired by a famous Chinese peach-bloom vase. Mt. Washington's version is distinct from those made by Hobbs Brockunier and New England Glass Company.
- Albertine: An opaque opalescent glass with applied and painted decoration, sometimes called "Crown Milano's cousin."
- Napoli: Clear glass with enamel-painted designs visible through the transparent body.
Identification and Marks
- Crown Milano: Often marked with a "CM" monogram within a wreath, sometimes accompanied by a crown. Paper labels reading "Crown Milano" were also used but rarely survive.
- Royal Flemish: Marked with an "RF" within a diamond shape.
- Burmese: Rarely marked. Attribution is based on the characteristic color shading, form, and finish.
- Pairpoint era: Post-1894 pieces may carry the Pairpoint mark, a "P" within a diamond, or paper labels.
Auction Price Ranges
| Glass Type | Typical Range | Exceptional Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Burmese, small vase or tumbler | $200 - $600 | Large decorated vases: $1,500 - $5,000 |
| Burmese, decorated lamp or epergne | $1,000 - $4,000 | Fairy lamps (Clarke base): $500 - $2,500 |
| Crown Milano vase or jar | $400 - $1,500 | Large scenic or figural: $3,000 - $12,000 |
| Royal Flemish vase | $1,500 - $5,000 | Large pieces with dragon motif: $8,000 - $25,000 |
| Peachblow vase | $300 - $1,200 | Large or decorated forms: $2,000 - $6,000 |
| Napoli/Albertine | $300 - $1,000 | Large or unusual forms: $1,500 - $4,000 |
| Pairpoint lamps and accessories | $200 - $2,000 | Puffy or reverse-painted lamps: $3,000 - $15,000 |
Condition Factors
- Enamel decoration: Hand-painted enamels on Crown Milano and Royal Flemish are vulnerable to wear and cleaning. Any enamel loss reduces value substantially.
- Gilding: Original gilding should show age-appropriate wear. Regilt pieces are detectable under magnification and are worth considerably less.
- Glass body: Chips, cracks, and heat checks are serious defects in art glass. Even minor rim chips can reduce values by 30-50%.
- Silver-plated mounts: Original mounts on Crown Milano sweetmeat jars and biscuit barrels should match in style and patina. Replaced mounts diminish value.
- Burmese color: The salmon-to-yellow color transition should be smooth and even. Uneven reheating or color anomalies suggest production seconds.
Collecting Tips
- Mt. Washington art glass is a blue-chip collecting category with strong institutional and private collector demand. Museum-quality examples rarely decline in value.
- Royal Flemish is the rarest of the major Mt. Washington lines and commands the highest prices per piece.
- Learn to distinguish Mt. Washington Burmese from Webb Burmese (English) and modern Fenton Burmese reproductions. Fenton pieces are lighter in weight with more uniform color gradation.
- Crown Milano pieces with original silver-plated hardware and lids are worth considerably more than those missing these elements.
- John A. Shuman III's reference books on Mt. Washington glass are the standard works for identification and valuation.
- Pairpoint reverse-painted and "puffy" lamps are a related collecting area with strong market demand and excellent decorative appeal.