Confusing Grape/Berry Patterns

By: John Gregory

The illustration accompanying this article shows three wines (eggcups?) that can be confused. The following identifications appear in reference books-The left hand one is listed in Welker (p. 325) as Berry Spray, Indiana Tumbler & Goblet Company, 1901. There is reference to Measell (p. 46, photograph), who, in turn, quotes Herrick (p. 12, photograph). She claims to have found a "very heavy wine glass and round-bottom goblet in many shards" in Greentown. The photograph shows the same pattern as in Measell. This pattern also appears in Miles & Miller (p. 129, photograph) as an eggcup/wine named Grape Bunch (Berry Spray). McCain (P1. 145, drawing) calls the pattern Grape Bunch and shows a rather squatty "goblet," attributing it to Sandwich Glass, 1870s. The middle wine is listed in Welker (p. 378) with reference to Metz (p. 76, photograph), who calls it Grape Bunch, an eggcup, and says it is found in the Sandwich Museum. It also appears in Hartley (p. 49, photograph of Cabinet 2, Row 7), called Grape Bunch, a wine, and attributed to Doyle & Company, 1870s. I have not identified the third object. It seems that Berry Spray should be the name of the first, and Grape Bunch of the second. None of these seem to be related to the "Grape Bunch variation" shown in Unitt (p. 218). In view of the rather short, broad goblets shown in McCain and in Miles & Miller, it may be reasonable to accept this group as wines rather than eggcups or perhaps as dual-purpose vessels. I would welcome any suggestions as to the identification of the third.

References :

Hartley, J.M., OId American Glass: The MilIs Collections at Texas Christian University, Texas Christian University Press, Fort Worth, TX, 1975.

Herrick, R., Antiques Jounual, Vol. 8, May, 1953.

McCain, M.H., The Collector's Encylopedia of Pattern Glass, Collector Books, Paducah, KY, 1982.

Measell, J., Greelatown Glass: The Indiana Tumbler & Goblet Company, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI, 1979.

Metz, A.H., Much More Early American Pattern Glass, Heritage Antiques, South Orleans, MA, 1977.

Miles, D., and Miller, R.W. (eds.), Price Guide to Pattern Glass, Ilth ed., Wallace Homestead Book Co., Radnor, PA, 1986.

Unitt, D. & P., American and Canadian Goblets, Vol. 2, Love of Glass Publishing, Inc., 1994.

Welker, J. & E., Pressed Glass in America, Antique Acres Press, Ivyland, PA, 1985.