If you already have American made cut glass that belonged to a grandmother or another family member, cherish it as you would any prized possession, for no more like it will ever be made. ~ John C. Roesel, June 1983
I took a lightning speed crash course in glass making in America so I would sound at least a little bit knowledgeable about the cut glass pedestal candy dish which once belonged to my great-grandmother Laura Bell INGRAM, wife of William Henderson DEMPSEY.
In 1997 we visited Jamestown, Virginia, and learned the first industry to be established in America in 1608 at the settlement was glass making. This was about all I knew before I sat down to write this post.
The first cut glass was produced in America about 1771, over 160 years later in Manheim, Pennsylvania, at the American Flint Glass Manufactory founded by William Stiegel, an immigrant from Cologne, Germany.
Although this dish once belonged to my great-grandmother Laura, it did not come to me through my grandparents and parents.
In 2011 my 2nd cousin Robert sent me a photo and wrote, “My mom just came in and asked if you would be interested in a glass nic-nac that belonged to your great-grandmother (Fred Rothwell Dempsey’s mother). My mom says that she got it from my grandmother (Edith Roop Ramsey).”
I was happy to receive the “nic-nac” Robert sent by mail across America and the Atlantic, carefully packed and double boxed.
Laura died in October 1940 so I can date this cut glass pedestal candy or compote bowl to pre-1940. It stands 4 inches tall, 5 inches across the top, and weighs a pound, two ounces. The saw-tooth edge is scalloped and four pinwheel star patterns around the bowl and on the bottom of the pedestal.
When I took a closer look I noticed some scratches along the edge and in the inside of the bowl. I also found a seam, actually four, which tells me this is glass and not crystal.
In these days of additive manufacturing or 3D printing Mr. Roesel may be right about this being an heirloom to treasure as no more like it will ever be made (in the same way) but I cherish it for the way it came to me and because it once was lovingly cared for by my great-grandmother Laura.
© 2016 Cathy Meder-Dempsey
Nice story. Glad that the bowl made it’s way back to you.
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Thanks to you and your Mom. Love all the things you share with me. Thank you!
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Cathy….I think we are related! My grandmother was Edith Ramsey. Robert Baker is my cousin. My dad was Robert G. Ramsey, Sr., son of Edith and James Ramsey.
Would love to hear from you at
ramseym1@bellsouth.net
Michael Ramsey
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I know we are related, Michael. Second cousins as your grandmother Edith was the sister of my grandmother Myrtle Hazel Roop. I have a note in my database that I should get in touch with you – dated January 2013. Seems like I never followed up. So happy to see your comment here. I’ll send off an email asap.
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Beautiful piece!
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Thank you.
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Beautiful! I love how genealogy leads us to learn all sorts of interesting historical tidbits. Thanks for sharing this piece, and what you learned about it. Do you think it was a wedding gift?
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I was thinking the same thing last night but it completely slipped my mind today when I was writing it up. Edith who got it from Laura married in 1929 so time-wise it would fit. Thanks Jen!
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Anything glass that’s survived so long must have been well cared for / important.
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That’s for sure. So easy to break especially when kids are in the house. 🙂
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Yeah. When we moved into our condo, I kept our China hutch in storage. It’s still there almost 4 years later, because every time I think of moving it in, my boys break something. My most special things are near the ceiling or packed away.
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It is beautiful. And a beautiful story. My German-born ancestors were making glass in the late 19th century in PA. I had no idea glassmaking had been an industry in that state for that long.
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I’ve never been interested in the value of things or how they were made but writing about the heirlooms makes me want to educate myself. Thank you Amy.
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It is a beautiful heirloom. Do you have any idea of the value of it? Just curious.
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Since it appears to be only glass probably less than $100 to a collector. I found very few items online which were similar. Thank you Janice!
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Hi Cathy, This story is touching and the piece is absolutely beautiful. I’m looking for something just like this and you said that you found similar pieces online Could you share the online sites you mentioned?
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Hi Melissa! Thank you for reading my Heirlooms post and taking the time to post a comment. It’s been over four years since I wrote about the vintage pedestal glass candy bowl. If you search online for those five words, you’ll find hits on Etsy, eBay, and Amazon.
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