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Rarities in the ACGA Collection: 

Aberdeen Pattern Cut by Jewel

By Rob Smith

 The Jewel Cut Glass Co (C.H. Taylor, President) was formed in Newark , NJ in June 1907, as the successor to the C. H. Taylor Cut Glass Co.  About February 1910 Jewel occupied the former Libbey showroom at 57 Park Place in New York City , that Jewel advertised as "the Finest Showrooms in the District." (See [AD2] page JEW-14).  The company introduced new patterns in cut glass until at least Dec 1917 and apparently ceased glass-cutting operations about 1928 ([REV] page 196).  One of the most highly prized patterns cut by this company is Aberdeen .

Figure1.

The ten inch sandwich plate shown in Figure 1 was cut in the Aberdeen pattern circa 1912.  The Aberdeen pattern on flat pieces (plates, platters, bowls etc.) consists of a deeply cut central hobstar (point count depends on object size), having points filled with crosscutting.  Surrounding the center is a ring of flutes.  The middle portion of the plate is cut in a circular chain of hobstars delimited by rings of beading.  Between the hobstars in the chain are precisely cut small "filler" buttons of crosscutting. The outer portion of the plate is cut in a ring of 36 elongated flutes, each corresponding to a rim scallop.  

Figure 2

The plate pictured shows that Aberdeen is a pattern symmetric about a central point.  As shown in Figure 2, the plate exhibits 18 identical "wedges" of pattern cutting, each composed of a portion of the central 18-point hobstar, one interior flute, a hobstar in the chain bounded by beading, plus two of the outer flutes and their rim scallops.  

When you compare the Aberdeen plate images, several pattern curiosities are suggested.  First, the relative sizes of the central hobstars and rings of flutes varied considerably. Second, some but not all plates and platters were cut with circular mitres separating the central hobstar from the adjacent flutes ring. Curiously, the larger 12" sandwich plates seem to have been cut with either 24  ([HOB] page CNP 2079) or 28 ([AD2] page JEW-3) Aberdeen pattern wedges.  Some Jewel documentation and surviving flat pieces show central hobstar point counts identical to wedge (chained hobstar) counts as in Figure 1.  Other flat Aberdeen pieces have central hobstar point counts not matching the number of wedges, for example [AD2] page JEW-3.

Pattern designers sometimes transformed their layouts into significantly different variations to accommodate alternate shapes.  Some collectors find the shape-specific pattern modifications interesting.  Aberdeen is an example of a pattern that appears quite different when cast onto a vertical form.  Figure 3 shows the ACGA Collection 8 ¾" tall jug cut on the Stuben #1610 blank in Aberdeen . The Jewel Aberdeen pattern cut on vertical pieces (pitchers, vases, decanters, etc.) consists of alternating bands of flutes and chains of hobstars, separated by horizontal lines of beading.  

Figure 3.

Jewel cut the Aberdeen pattern on several different pieces.  The sandwich plate No. 460 was offered in 10" and 12" sizes as pictured on [AD2] pages JEW-2 to JEW-7. The No. 5352 Four-Pint Jug cut in Aberdeen is pictured on [AD2] page JEW-18, along with an Aberdeen pattern tumbler.  The ACGA Collection Aberdeen jug is smaller than the example pictured.  Bowls cut in Aberdeen are shown on [AD2] pages JEW-38 and JEW-39.  Other Aberdeen pattern pieces are advertised on [AD2] pages JEW-31 and JEW-54.  According to an August 1911 article in the Pottery and Glass Journal, Jewel cut Aberdeen  "...on ice cream sets, sandwich plates, fruit bowls, cracker and cheese dishes and vases.  Not only is the cutting on each piece of extra fine work, but the expense of polishing is greater than on any line yet brought out by the Jewel company." The high quality metal of the Aberdeen blanks combines with precise pattern cutting and expert wheel polishing to yield an especially “brilliant” presentation. No Aberdeen pattern pieces are offered in [JEW], suggesting that this catalog may have been published before 1911.  

One of the larger jugs in Aberdeen is pictured on [PE1] page 82, along with an Aberdeen pattern electric lamp and a 12" No. 460 Aberdeen sandwich plate. Pearson also refers to this pattern as "Flutes and Hobstars" pattern.  According to Pearson, the blanks are "...of the best Stuben crystal clear quality, and the close cutting is a lapidary's delight."  Pearson rated Aberdeen as a relative value 2-2, indicating that it is very rare and one of the most desirable patterns.  

A 14" two-piece punchbowl in Aberdeen is pictured on [RAR] page 179.  The bowl appears to have 28 identically cut wedge segments. [BOGABCG] page 63 shows a 16" plate or platter cut in Aberdeen by Jewel; the central hobstar has 24 points, and there are 26 wedges.  Several fine pieces cut in Aberdeen pattern have appeared in previous Hobstars editions, as summarized in Table I.  

The Aberdeen pattern was protected by US Design Patent No. 42,333, issued March 19,1912 after being filed Dec 7, 1911 . Interestingly, Jewel seems to have advertised and produced Aberdeen before filing for patent protection.  It's also worth noting that the patent drawing plate for Aberdeen does not include the circular mitre surrounding the central hobstar. The patent was issued to Henry Luckock (a company founder and minority owner) and Charles Taylor (founder, 92% owner and President of Jewel). See [REV] page 194-96 and [AD2] page JEW-57.  

Acknowledgments:    There are presently two examples of Jewel Aberdeen in the ACGA Collection.  The Aberdeen sandwich plate was contributed in 2005 by the Heartland Chapter.  The Aberdeen jug was donated in 1998 by Jean Davison in memory of her daughter, Linda  Davison (see [HOB] page CNP 2839).  

Cindy Chandler and Ken Howe each edited and improved an earlier draft of this article. Craig Carlson provided the PG quote. Contact Walter Poeth (530-873-6608) or Leon Torline (620-227-8154) for information about adding cut glass to the ACGA Collection.  If you can provide additional information about our Jewel Aberdeen pattern pieces or would like to help catalog items in the ACGA collection, please contact Ken Howe at (859) 331 - 8954 or kenhowe@fuse.net.

CM = Circular Mitre surrounding central hobstar.

 References:      [AD2] Cut Glass Advertisements Book 2, R. Smith (ed.), LABAC Cycle #5, 2003.
                        [BOGABCG] American Brilliant Cut Glass, Bill and Louise Boggess, 1977.
                        [HOB] American Cut Glass Association Hobstar.
                        [JEW] Catalog and Price List of the Jewel Cut Glass Company, reprinted by LABAC Cycle #2, 2002.
                        [PE1] Encyclopedia of American Cut and Engraved Glass (1880-1917) Volume I: Geometric Conceptions, J. Michael Pearson, 1975.
                        [RAR] Rarities in American Cut Glass, H. Wiener and F. Lipkowitz, 1975.
                        [REV] Encyclopedia of  American Cut & Engraved Glass, A.C. Revi, 2000.

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