Diverse Cut- Glass Topics

A Peek at Norwegian Brilliant Period (NBP) Cut Glass

Had we not given the game away with the title of this file, most readers would probably identify these three examples of brilliant cutting as belonging to the American brilliant period (ABP). But, no, all are Norwegian products made at Hadelands Glassverk around 1900 (Berg 1996, Krog 1995, Lie 1977, Lie and Opstad 1976, Newman 1977, pp. 144, 216).

The Hadeland factory was founded in 1762, but it was not until the middle of the nineteenth century that it, enlargened and modernized, began to specialize in fine tableware. About 1880 the factory converted from wood-burning to gas-fired furnaces which must have improved the quality of its blanks. Sometime during the 1880s miter-cutting came into fashion: splits were deeply cut on thick blanks. Previously, facet- and olive-cutting (bullseyes) were preferred, a style that matched several American middle-period patterns.

The shift to miter-cutting could have been a direct result of the cut glass that was displayed at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, but it also could have been transmitted more indirectly, by way of continental factories such as Val St. Lambert and Baccarat.

Production of brilliantly-cut items progressed rapidly at Hadeland to such an extent that the company won a gold medal at an exposition in Sweden in 1897. While a list of the articles exhibited is not available, it is believed that most were cut in the brilliant style. This style, although popular, was not universally admired. It gradually faded in populalrity as the twentieth century progressed, although some patterns were still available as late as the 1920s.

The wine glass, below on the left, is cut in the pattern known as Nordkap (North Cape) which first appeared on a Hadeland price list in 1899. Notice that the miter-cutting uses part of L. Straus & Sons' Venetian pattern. It also closely follows a Baccarat pattern. The celery vase, below on the right, is similar to several American patterns of the period.

The two-part punch bowl, below, is, oddly, listed as a salad bowl. It was available in two sizes: D = 9.2" (23.5 cm) and 12.6" (32 cm). The pattern is called Moss. Other place-names given to salatboller include Molde, Hardanger, and Hammerfest.

Pattern-names also honored national heroes, such as the dramatist Bjornstjerne Bjornson and the explorer and humanitarian Fridjof Nansen. Nansen seems to have had two patterns named for him: one using his first name, and one his last. His ship, the FRAM (FORWARD) was also so honored.

It is unlikely that many Hadeland items made their way across the Atlantic. but the company did have a significant trade with England. Hadelands Glassverk continues in operation today.

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Additional References

Gaustad, Randi, 1998: Heinrich Gottlieb Köhler: an enigmatic glass engraver, The Magazine Antiques, Oct 1998, pp. 502-9.

Kock, Jan, 1996: Norwegian glass from Nøstetangen: a crossroads of German and English styles, The Magazine Antiques, Sep 1996, pp. 316-23.

Updated 15 Sep 2007