It is not always easy to determine whether a patent issued during the 1870s was granted for an item's shape or for its pattern. This is the case for the first patented pattern listed here. Its specification, however, makes the patent's purpose unmistakable: "I am aware that glass vases having a bell or cone shape, and with flaring scalloped lips and longitudinal ribs, are not new, and I do not claim them. The distinctive character of my design is found in serrated and highly-polished ribs extending the length of the vase-body, the surface of which is ground off or lusterless." (Frederick S. Shirley) Prior to the discovery of this pattern's official name -- which is found in the c1885 MT. WASHINGTON GLASS CO. catalog (Padgett reprint) -- it was called "Polished Ribs" by collectors. The catalog also refers to the item as a 12" Ribbed Vase.
The name of the second patented pattern is given in an early catalog as Electric. It is often called "Angulated Ribbon", a name that apparently originated with Daniel (1950, p. 200) who lifted it from the patent specification. Revi, who had access to this early catalog -- which is apparently now lost -- also used the records of the U. S. Patent Office. As a result he mentions two additional patented patterns, Thurber and Dauntless, that were available at the time the Electric pattern was cut, but which are unknown today.
Revi also mentions other early patents, but they seem to be concerned with the shape of an item rather than any unique cut-glass pattern; therefore, these patents are not listed here. Of some interest, however, is his brief discussion of Frederick Shirley's design patent no. 16,172 of 14 Jul 1885, which was for a blank to be used for cutting:
The scalloped edge of the dishes [is] separated by deeply cut grooves which extend from the base of the bowl to the rim. Illustrations of these bowls in trade catalogues showing the company's cut glass wares indicate that the panels between the deeply cut grooves were ornamented by bright cuts in conventional designs, such as the "Russian", "Strawberry-Diamond", and "Old English Diamond" patterns (Revi 1965, pp. 51-52).
Appendix 1 of MT. WASHINGTON AND PAIRPOINT GLASS by K. M. Wilson (Vol. 1, 2005) provides lists of design patents and utility patents. The only patent for a cut-glass pattern listed there that is also listed below is design patent 18,595 (Mirror Block). Cut glass is treated only briefly in Vol. 1, presumably because there are plans to include the subject in Vol. 2.
All patents were assigned by their patentees to the companies, except those marked with an asterisk (*). These patents were retained by their patentees.
8,824 / Scolloped and Notched / Frederick S. Shirley / 24 Nov 1875 / 7 Dec 1875 (*)
13,160 / Shape only: Pairpoint Nappy / Frederick S. Shirley / 6 Jul 1882 / 8 Aug 1882
16,172 / Shape only: Martin Bowl / Frederick S. Shirley / 14 May 1885 / 14 Jul 1885
17,380 / Thurber / Andrew Snow, Jr. / 14 Mar 1887 / 7 Jun 1887 (*)
18,959 / Mirror Block / Frederick S. Shirley / 24 Nov 1888 / 12 Mar 1889 (*)
21,173 / Bedford / Thomas Singleton, Jr. / 9 Jul 1891 / 17 Nov 1891
22,169 / Monterey / Thomas Singleton, Jr. / 16 Sep 1892 / 31 Jan 1893
22,170 / Regent / Thomas Singleton, Jr. / 22 Sep 1892 / 31 Jan 1893
22,203 / Hortensia / Thomas Singleton, Jr. / 22 Sep 1892 / 7 Feb 1893 (*)
22,287 / Corinthian / Thomas Singleton, Jr. / 22 Sep 1892 / 14 Mar 1893
23,496 / "Fan and Diamond" / Thomas Singleton, Jr. / 17 Mar 1894 / 24 Jul 1894
23,497 / "Ox-Bow" / Thomas Singleton, Jr. / 17 Mar 1894 / 24 Jul 1894
23,761 / Priscilla / Thomas Singleton, Jr. / 9 Oct 1894 / 6 Nov 1894
28,178 / Cambridge / Andrew Snow, Jr. / 3 Nov 1897 / 18 Jan 1898 (*)
28,179 / Boston / Andrew Snow, Jr. / 3 Nov 1897 / 18 Jan 1898 (*)
35,062 / "Punties and Prisms" / Andrew Snow, Jr. / 27 Jul 1901 / 10 Sep 1901 (*)
39,643 / Holland / Andrew Snow, Jr. / 29 Nov 1907 / 27 Oct 1908 (*)
39,982 / Daisy / Albert Steffin / 31 Dec 1908 / 11 May 1909
39,994 / Rose / Albert Steffin / 10 Feb 1909 / 18 May 1909
40,079 / Anemone / Carl E. Morde / 26 Apr 1909 / 22 Jun 1909
40,760 / Tiger Lily / Harrison A. Silsbee / 7 Mar 1910 / 12 Jul 1910
50,463 / Louis XVI / Floyd F. Cary / 2 Dec 1916 / 20 Mar 1917
50,550 / Georgian / Floyd F. Cary / 7 Jan 1916 / 3 pr 1917
50,551 / Adams / Floyd F. Cary / 30 Oct 1916 / 3 Apr 1917
The Boston pattern, with vertical punties, was designed by Andrew Snow, Jr. and patented by the Pairpoint Manufacturing Company on 18 Jan 1898. Patent number 28,179. H = 12" (30.5 cm), base D = 5" (12.7 cm), wt = 4 Lb (1.8 kg). Sold for $285 in 1985.
Boston's sister pattern, with the punties arranged horizontally, was logically named Cambridge, and was patented on the same date as the Boston pattern. Water set consisting of a 9"H carafe and two matching 4"H tumblers. Sold for $225 in 1998.
Updated 4 Apr 2006