More than a dozen years ago Estelle Sinclaire set us straight regarding the importation of fine cut glass from Belgium during the nineteenth century (note 1). Unfortunately, this writer was unaware of this at the time he first published the above pair of covered urns, stating that he believed them to be examples of Anglo-American cut glass (note 2). He can now make amends, having seen a later edition of the authoritative book by Joseph Philippe (1988) on glass from the Belgian factory of Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert that is referred to by Sinclaire. There is little doubt that the urns were produced by this factory and cut in the English style that was popular there (and elsewhere) at the time. (The company even began its operations in 1826 with English craftsmen on its payroll (Newman 1977, p. 324).) This "Belgian connection" also applies to Daniel (1950, p. 371) who shows a covered compote that is obviously from the same source. It is cut in a different pattern -- one that includes curved miters -- that is Belgian, not English, in style. Daniel erroneously attributes the item to the Jersey Glass Company of the Dummers. (This was a major factor in "deceiving" this writer!)
When this pair of urns was purchased in a shop in Stonington, CT in July 1987, it was said that they had belonged, at one time, to the American painter Russell Cheney (1881-1945). Whether this is true or not can not be confirmed. Oddly, the writer saw other urns in this same style and size elsewhere in New England about the time he purchased this pair. But he was able to buy only an additional half-a-pair. It is shown below, on the left, and obviously dates from the same period, which can roughly be put at c1830 (with a generous range of plus or minus 10 years). All three urns share the same specifications and have 16-pt stars cut on their feet. The single urn sold for $150 in 1990.
It was probably the company's colored cut glass that induced the American Cut Glass Association (in co-operation with the Rakow Library of the Corning Museum of Glass) to reprint four twentieth century catalogs, in whole or in part, from the Val factory as CRISTALLERIES DU VAL SAINT-LAMBERT (1998). As a result, we now have considerable information about this company, including its table services in colorless lead glass. Some of these have been mistaken for American products. (Similar items from Bohemia, in non-lead glass, can also be found.) We have had individual drinking glasses from the Val services, but only the two larger items shown here were photographed. The covered compote on the right is from the Service Lalaing that appears in Val's "crystal service for the table" catalog of 1904. Lalaing is the pattern name (motif of broad flutes). The service is not described in detail, but it consists of an open compote, handled and handleless decanters, and four "stems" in addition to the covered compote. It was available only in colorless lead glass ("crystal"). The example was found in a hodge-podge of mismatched covers and bases (oh, those auctioneers!) at a wholesaler's warehouse in Somerset, MA. H = 11.0" (27.9 cm), max D = 6.5" (16.5 cm), wt = 2.5 lb (1.1 kg). Air traps in knop and stem. Large ground and polished pontil. Sold for $175 in 1986.
The second item is the following "dessert bowl" (coupe à dessert) or "high compote". This item is also shown in the 1904 Val catalog. It is part of the Service Prince de Galles which is much larger than the Lalaing service. It was found, like the pair of urns, in Stonington, CT. D = 8.25" (20.9 cm), H = 7.5" (19.0), wt = 3.25 lb (1.5 kg). Air traps in knop and stem. Large ground and polished pontil. Sold for $225 in 1986.
This "dessert bowl" was also available in cut-to-clear versions. Examples such as the following are often offered as "rare Boston & Sandwich cut glass". (See just such an erroneous attribution by the sometime editor of the Pittsburgh Glass Journal, Vol. 3, No. 4 [December 1990]}. The following example, in blue (cobalt) cut-to-clear, has a diameter of 9" (22.9 cm) and is 8" (20.3 cm) tall. The seller, not having access to the Val catalog, suggested that "it could possibly be Baccarat". Close, but no cigar. It was offered on a "Buy It Now" basis for $495 at an eBay auction in 2007.
NOTES;
1. Sinclaire, Estelle, 1988: The Belgian connection, The Hobstar, Vol. 10, No. 6, p. 5 (Mar).
2. [Havens, J. M.], 1987: Anglo-American cut glass discoveries (part 1), The Hobstar, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 6-8 (Oct).
Updated 1 Mar 2007