MCM (Mid-Century Modern) barware has become one of the fastest selling forms of usable-collectible for the summer of 2018. From the intimate dinner party to the backyard BBQ, today’s hostess is opting to welcome her guests with a cold drink in a beautiful glass that says, “no Dixie cups here, only the best for our friends!”
On the practical side, using glassware, rather than plastic, significantly reduces overload to our landfills and should the time come to discard your barware, recycled glass uses 40 percent less energy to reclaim than the manufacturing of new glass. There is also the benefit of considerably reducing your grocery bill by eliminating the purchase of plastic and paper cups.
The true spirit of retro glamor/kitsch is exemplified in the barware from Polish designer George Braird. George Braird (the pseudonym used by designer Jascha Brojdo) produced ice buckets and glass sets that are a must-have for any MCM enthusiast. His award-winning gold plated designs from 1950-1970 were originally sold at finer department stores, including Bonwit Teller and Neiman Marcus. Watch for pieces from his signature collections as they will be worth considerably more than his unsigned works.
Los Angles artist Dorthy Thorpe produced some of the finest barware “art” of the 20th Century. Unlike the major companies who were rolling out thousands of pieces a day, Dorthy purchased high quality handmade glass from companies like Heisey and Cambridge and hand decorated each piece. The bulk of her work is from the 1950s and most pieces will be marked. Collectors watch for her silver overlay glasses with a large “T” in the center and a stylized D on one side. These marks can be elusive to the novice as they were often incorporated into the design on the glass.
Cylindrical tumblers are the heart of any collection and the works of the Culver Glassware Company are among the most popular. Founded in Brooklyn in 1939 by Irving Rothenberg, their bold colors, lavish designs and 22K gold trim made them a top seller in their day as well as now. They are more difficult to find than many of the other brands of retro barware, but do appear from time to time online through eBay and Etsy offerings.
Hazel Atlas produced full bar sets in the early 50s that consisted of 24 glasses of varying sizes with a matching ice bucket. While you can purchase full sets online in the $600 range, assembling a set a piece at a time is a true adventure for the avid collector. In 1956, Continental Can bought out Hazel Atlas. As a result, barware made from 1956-1963 may be marked Hazelware.
No glassware collection would be complete without a few cocktail shakers. These are found in three designs, the two piece Boston Shaker, the three piece Cobbler Shaker and the French Shaker that consists of two pieces plus a strainer. Originally popular during the Prohibition period of the 1920s, shakers saw a brief resurgence in popularity during the early 1950s. By the end of the decade they were replaced in most home bars by the electric blender but many survived and surface often at estate sales and auctions.
Reproduction pieces abound and while they appeal to some because they are dishwasher safe, they are of no interest to the serious collector. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
