Short Tidy and Long Tidy

By Jim Pollard and John Gregory

The goblet in the Tidy pattern is found in two forms called Long Tidy and Short Tidy. The names refer to the relative space occupied by the clear areas at the top and the decorated areas below, Long Tidy goblets having a larger decorated area.
The pattern first appeared in an 1871 McKee and Brothers catalog, according to Innes and Spillman (1) under the name Rustic. Since then it has garnered the names Stayman, Drapery Variant and Tidy. For the purpose of this article, the name Tidy will be used. The catalog shows a goblet of the Short Tidy variety. The decoration includes a stippled or clear area, wider at the top and containing a stalk with leaves and tendrils branching toward the top. Two small concentric circles are at the top center of this area. The decoration ends in a narrow belt with a plain area above.
Stout (2) reproduces a McKee catalog page with a drawing of a Long Tidy Goblet named, however, Rustic. Metz (3) has a photograph of a covered sugar, mentions a goblet and a wine, and states, "...in many patterns, such as this one, the width of the clear band varies greatly in the old ones." In her second book, Metz (4) shows both Long and Short Tidy goblets.
Lee (5) shows drawings of three pieces, including a Long Tidy goblet, here titled Drapery Variant, while Kamm (6) sketches a creamer, identified as Tidy, and notes that a four-piece table set is known.
The Unitts (7) show photographs of goblets in both varieties, Short and Long, and cites as a source "possibly Trenton Glass Works and other Canadian factories," but without support.
All of the illustrations of the pattern in the above references clearly show the small circles. In an unclear photograph, however, that allows the possibility that the circles are absent, Millard (8) shows a Short Tidy goblet, which he names Stayman.
The accompanying photograph shows both the Long Tidy and the Short Tidy varieties of the goblet together with a close relative of the Short Tidy that lacks the small circles and has other small differences elsewhere in the design. This has not been reported before, although it is possible that the example in Millard's photograph might correspond. We do not know whether the wine exists in similar forms.
So as not to leave this orphan wandering in a pitiless world, we suggest it be named "Untidy" until its parents become known. We would be most appreciative if any further light could be thrown on this matter.

Left: Long Tidy · Center: Short Tidy · Right: "Untidy"

References :

1. Innes, L. & Spillman, J.S. (1981) McKee Victorian Glass. Five Complete Glass Catalogs from 1859/60 to 1s71. Dover Publ., NY, pp.166-7.
2. Stout, S. McP. (1972) The Complete Book of McKee Glass. Trojan Press, North Kansas City, p. 72.
3. Metz, A.H. (1977a) Early American Pattern Glass. Heritage Antiques, South Orleans, MA, p 134.
4. Metz, A.H. (1977b) Much More Early American Pattern Glass. Heritage Antiques, South Orleans, MA, p. 134.
5. Lee, R.W. (1944) Victorian Glass Specialties of the Nineteenth Century, 12th ed. Lee Publications, Wellesley Hills, MA, plate 22.
6. Kamm, M.W. (1950) A Fourth Pitcher Book, 2nd ed. Kamm Publications, Detroit, MI, p. 22.
7. Unitt, Doris & Peter (1970) American and Canadian Goblets, Vol. I. Clock House Publishers, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, p. 241.
8. Millard, S.T. (1975) Goblets 2, 3rd ed. Wallace-Homestead Book Co., Des Moines, IA, plate 68.