New Martinsville: West Virginia Pressed and Elegant Glass

New Martinsville Glass Manufacturing Company operated in New Martinsville, West Virginia, from 1901 to 1944, when it was reorganized as the Viking Glass Company (continuing until 1986). The factory produced a wide range of pressed and blown glass including tableware, barware, figurines, vanity sets, and decorative items. New Martinsville is particularly collected for its colored glass of the 1920s-1930s, its animal figurines, and its elegant Depression-era tableware patterns.

Historical Periods

• 1901-1907 -- Early production; acquired molds from defunct companies including Higbee Glass
• 1907-1920 -- Expanded production of pressed tableware patterns
• 1920-1937 -- Peak collecting period; introduction of colored glass (amber, green, pink, cobalt blue, ruby, amethyst, black) and Art Deco-influenced designs
• 1937-1944 -- Late New Martinsville period; introduction of animal figurines and bookends
• 1944-1986 -- Reorganized as Viking Glass Company; continued many New Martinsville forms

Key Product Lines

• Moondrops -- Art Deco barware and tableware pattern with distinctive rocket-shaped finials and angular handles; produced in multiple colors. Among the most sought-after Depression glass patterns.
• Radiance -- A graceful ribbed pattern produced in amber, cobalt blue, red, ice blue, and crystal
• Janice -- An elegant clear and colored pattern with fan-shaped elements
• Animal Figurines -- Bears, dogs, horses, seals, elephants, roosters, and other animals in crystal and colors; designed by staff designer Ira Clarke
• Vanity Sets -- Perfume bottles, powder jars, and trays in coordinated designs
• Bookends -- Figural glass bookends including animals, ships, and stylized designs

Identification

• Early pieces may carry paper labels (rarely surviving) or be unmarked
• Pattern identification is the primary method -- reference books by James Measell are essential
• Colors help date pieces: vivid Depression-era colors (cobalt, ruby, jade green) indicate 1920s-1930s
• Animal figurines may bear a "V" mark if produced during the Viking era
• Mold seams and glass quality distinguish New Martinsville from similar competitors

Auction Price Ranges

Condition Factors

• Pressed glass is susceptible to chipping, especially on rims, handles, and finials
• Moondrops rocket finials are frequently damaged -- intact finials are essential for full value
• Color consistency matters in sets; variations indicate mixed production runs
• Animal figurines should be checked for ground or polished-out chips on ears, tails, and extremities
• Original labels, when present, add a modest premium
• Mold roughness on bases is normal manufacturing and not considered damage

Collecting Tips

Moondrops is the flagship pattern for New Martinsville collectors, with cobalt blue and ruby being the most desirable colors. Complete barware sets (cocktail shakers, decanters, shot glasses, wine glasses) are particularly sought after and display dramatically. The animal figurines are an affordable and charming collecting niche -- the bears in various poses are the most popular, with colored examples bringing significant premiums over crystal.

New Martinsville glass is often undervalued relative to better-known Depression glass manufacturers like Cambridge, Heisey, and Fostoria, offering collectors the opportunity to acquire quality colored glass at accessible prices. When Viking Glass continued production from New Martinsville molds, pieces are essentially identical in quality but are considered less collectible than pre-1944 originals. Reference books and pattern identification guides are essential, as most pieces are unmarked.