Singing Birds

By Richard Kruschke

Whenever I look at a piece of Singing Birds glass, I envision myself looking out of an old farm house kitchen window in a quieter and more peaceful time. Birds are singing among the blossoms of an old apple tree on a warm, sunny, spring morning. I became interested in Singing Birds because my great grandmother purchased some glass in this pattern in New Mexico and used it to serve her family. The single creamer handed down to me has grown to a collection of eighty-one pieces.

While Northwood called the pattern Singing Birds, Millard named the pattern Thrush and Apple Blossoms and dates it to the 1880s. This is clearly in error since the goblet as well as all other pieces are marked with the circled Northwood "N" that did not appear until 1905 and was used until 1915.
This beautiful Northwood pattern shows birds perched on stylized branches with blooms that look like apple blossoms. Kamm, however, notes that the flowers are botanically incorrect and are closer to a flowering quince (Cydonia japonica) or possibly dogwood. Some flowers have four petals, some five. Dots next to the thorns may represent not very realistic berries. Clearly, the designer used artistic license freely; no where in nature do berries stand in mid-air next to thorns, nor do flowers appear with varying numbers of petals with an absence of foliage. The motif differs slightly on the pitcher and the creamer thus warranting two listings by Kamm who also suggests that the pattern is based on an old German design.

While the bird motif is rare for Northwood, the basic form of this glassware is not; the shape of the Singing Birds table set and tumbler are almost identical to Northwood's: Colonial pattern Flute No. 21, dating from 1908. This may indicate a reworking of the original table set and tumbler flute molds. The No. 21 pitcher, however, has a completely different shape from the Singing Birds pitcher (the Singing Birds pitcher is, however, identical in form to a variation of the Northwood Poppy pattern) Thc Singing Birds creamer is a three part mold, and the pitcher a four part mold. Most pieces are paneled and the ice cream (footed sauce), pitcher, spooner, sauce, and creamer have broad scalloped rims.

The cover of the sugar shows a number of butterflies in contrast to the covered compotes and butter lids that retain the bird motif. The finial on the lids of the sugar, large compote, and butter is mushroom shaped. The high jelly compote lid has a spire shaped finial.
Both the sugar and spooner have two handles, which, like the handle on the creamer, are square in cross section with a beaded pattern. The handle on the pitcher and custard cup are plain and round in cross section. The creamer, sugar, large compote, spooner and sauce each have a 42 rayed star underneath the base. The tumbler has a 24-rayed star and the ice cream, mug, and cup have no star at all.
Northwood recognized the beauty of the motif and form of Singing Birds as well as its marketability as indicated by the breadth of its production. Singing Birds is one of the few patterns available in so many colors and types of glass, including clear, clear with enameled blue birds, clear with gold trim, and carnival and custard (nutmeg) glass. The enameled pieces were painted and refired to give them a brilliant luster. Kamm suggested that ruby stained pieces also exist in this pattern. My research indicates the existence of clear pieces in the table set, berry set, lemonade set, high stemmed covered compote, custard cup, wine, goblet, and footed sauce. Enameled pieces exist in the following forms: lemonade set, table set, berry set; I have heard reports of high and low compotes, but I have not seen them. An article in the November 25, 1915, issue of Pottery Glass and Brass Salesman stated, "the line includes jugs and tumblers, bowls, covered jars, trays, sugar and creams, footed compotes and a novel footed compote with cover. The May, 1916 -Pottery Glass and Brass Salesman mentions "pink glass with blue birds," but I have no firsthand knowledge of such pieces. Carnival pieces in amethyst, green, and marigold include mugs, table sets, berry sets, and lemonade sets in a blue carnival sauce dish and a marigold footed sauce. I have seen the clear gold trimmed pieces in the table set only. An olive green tumbler exists and an amber tumbler has been reported. The popular mug is known in more than seventeen different colors, including amber, amethyst, aqua opalescent, blue opalescent, cobalt blue, electric blue, marigold pastel, lavender, marigold, green, ice blue, purple, smoke, teal blue, iridized ivory or custard slag, and vaseline (reported but not verified).g Mugs with stippled backgrounds appear in five colors: amethyst, blue, marigold pastel, marigold, and green, and may post date the unstippled mugs.'" Some collectors further differentiate mugs based on flared and unflared rims. Some mugs have city names stenciled near the top. Aqua opalescent and vaseline appear to be the rarest colors followed by mugs in pastels.
The Singing Birds pattern has become rare. Clear pieces are now very hard to find. Goblets and wines are rare. Enameled blue pieces also rarely appear on the market. While pieces when new were sold in many parts of the country, a good number of the clear pieces have been found in the Texas area. The glass is soft, and a good indicator of condition is an undamaged square beading on the handles of the table set. In enameled pieces of good condition the birds are dark blue and stems are dark green. The pattern is in good relief, and no reproductions are reported.
Clear pieces date from sometime between 1908 and 1915 but exact year of issue is unknown to me. The first trade ads date from mid 1911 and are for iridescent glass. Ivory items date from 1914-1915." The blue enameled pieces date from 1915.
Since Singing Birds appeared late in the production of pattern glass, many early collectors ignored it as did many early pressed glass researchers. Singing Birds, however, because of the superb artistry of its form and design is to me one of the finest examples of American pressed pattern glass and would be a fine addition to any collection.
I would like to thank the many experienced dealers and collectors who patiently shared their knowledge with me, and I would be happy to hear from any readers who are aware of the existence of other pieces.

References-
Millard, S.T. Goblets II. Plate 30.
Kamm, Minnie Watson. Pattern Glass Pitchers Books 1-8. (2:67) (5:173).
Heacock, William. Harry Northwood: the Wheeling Years. 76.
Kamm, Minnie Watson. Pattern Glass Pitchers Books 2-8. (2:67) (5:173).
Heacock, William. Harry Northwood: the Wheeling Years. 174.