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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 19 2007, 12:48 PM EDT (current) | kjacobso | |
| Jun 19 2007, 12:47 PM EDT | kjacobso | 177 words added |
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America’s chief contribution to the ancient art of glassmaking came in the 1820s with the invention of the hand glass press. That device, which forced molten glass into a mold under pressure, made it possible to mass-produce glass products.
From about 1830 through the 1880s, the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company used the new technology to turn out inexpensive pressed-glass products for ordinary folks. When we think of Sandwich glass today, we usually think of tableware, but the company also created more mundane items like drawer knobs for furniture. A small but enthusiastic group of fans has made sure that Sandwich glass drawer knobs remain collectible items.
The more valuable Sandwich knobs are in mint condition and retain their original hardware. Transparent glass knobs are common; colored knobs—especially powder blue, green, and opalescent—are much rarer and more valuable.
Collecting knobs can be a challenge: Because relatively few have endured unscathed, finding them in good condition is difficult. Also, in the 1930s a furniture company made knockoffs of 19th-century knobs that are easy to mistake for the originals.
From about 1830 through the 1880s, the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company used the new technology to turn out inexpensive pressed-glass products for ordinary folks. When we think of Sandwich glass today, we usually think of tableware, but the company also created more mundane items like drawer knobs for furniture. A small but enthusiastic group of fans has made sure that Sandwich glass drawer knobs remain collectible items.
The more valuable Sandwich knobs are in mint condition and retain their original hardware. Transparent glass knobs are common; colored knobs—especially powder blue, green, and opalescent—are much rarer and more valuable.
Collecting knobs can be a challenge: Because relatively few have endured unscathed, finding them in good condition is difficult. Also, in the 1930s a furniture company made knockoffs of 19th-century knobs that are easy to mistake for the originals.
