Is Cut Glass A Luxury?

Item Details

Philadelphia / Egg Harbor City, NJ, Liberty Cut Glass Works, circa 1905, paper wraps

[TRADE CATALOG]  [CUT GLASS]  [VICTORIANA]  [TABLEWARE]  [GLASSWARE]  [NEW JERSEY]  Liberty Cut Glass Works.  Illustrated trade catalog with the cover title Is Cut Glass a Luxury? (Philadelphia / Egg Harbor, NJ: Liberty Cut Glass Works, nd).  Printed by Weeks Photo-Engraving Co/. Philadelphia, PA.

Paper wraps with decorative cover and a circular portion cut out to see through to cut glass on the first inside page; 24 pp; illustrated; catalog measures approximately 8.25 x 5.5 inches.  Middle 4-page signature has come loose from the staples; o/w an attractive publication in VG+ condition.

On page 11, under the name Liberty Cut Glass Works, is a red sticker that reads “Egg Harbor City / New Jersey”.  The company started production of cut glassware there in 1903.  One of its founders was John E. Mardsen of Philadelphia, which probably explains the Philadelphia printing of this catalog.  Liberty Cut Glass Works continued its operation in Egg Harbor until a fire destroyed its plant in 1932.  That disaster, along with the hard economic times during the Depression, was the end of the company.  It never rebuilt or recovered.  However, Mardsen by this time had already opened his own cut glass company in Philadelphia.  This visually pleasing cut glass catalog appears to date from the early years of the Liberty Cut Glass Works shortly after the end of the Victorian period.

The opening text deals with how cut glass is made and attempts to make the argument that, no, it is not a luxury.  The company states that “It is our desire that Liberty Cut Glass shall grace the table of every home in the country where the finer art instincts prevail.  For this reason we have evolved a system of selling which will bring its acquirement within the reach of everyone.  Instead of selling through the jobber and the retailer, we have adopted the plan of selling direct from the works to the home.  The profits which have previously gone to the middleman, are, therefore, eliminated and this system enables us to give our customers absolutely factory prices.  This means a saving of 40 per cent, to the purchaser.”  Pages 12-23 illustrate various pieces of cut glass available for sale, giving pattern name and stock number, size and price.  Illustrated are pieces such as Pickle Tray, Celery Tray, Bon Bon Dishes, Spoon Trays, Oil decanters, Spoon Holder, Punch Bowl, Sherry and Champagne glasses, Handled Jugs (pitchers), Salad or Fruit Bowls, Sugar and Creamers, Water Glasses, Carafes, Vases, Nappies, and an Ice Cream Tray.  The last page is devoted to “How To Wash Cut Glass”.