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The luxury glass of Bakewell, Page and Bakewell.
In 1808, when several New York City merchants installed their bankrupt colleague Benjamin Bakewell (1767-1844) as managing partner of a foundering glasshouse in Pittsburgh, they could not have foreseen the future success of the enterprise. Through nine partnerships, all involving members of the Bakewell family, the glassworks remained in operation for seventy-four years, only closing down in 1882.
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Known as the "father of the flint glass industry" in the United States, (1) Bakewell succeeded in making high quality, lead-formula, or "flint," glass that could compete with the products of England and France. Because he employed skilled craftsmen from those countries and used European examples as models, he was able to produce decorated glass in the latest international styles. As a result, the Pittsburgh Flint Glass Manufactory, as the Bakewell endeavor was called, became famous for its expensive luxury wares.
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As early as 1809 Bakewell offered chandeliers, and possibly some table glass, that were cut for him by an independent glass cutter, Peter William Eichbaum (1749-1827), a Saxon-born glass cutter who, from 1794 to 1797, had managed the glasshouse near Philadelphia established by John Nicholson (d. 1800). Eichbaum moved to Pittsburgh in 1797 to supervise a glass factory for James O'Hara (1754-1819) and Isaac Craig (c. 1742-1826). (2) He soon resigned and set up his own glass-cutting shop, in addition to running a tavern. When a traveler examined the many "articles of taste & luxury" in Bakewell's storeroom in 1809, he noted that "the glass is well cut as by a singular transition of fortune the Glass cutter who carries on that business here was formerly the artist of Louis the 16th." (3) Eichbaum's claim of royal patronage was also reported in another 1809 account describing a "six light chandelier with prisms of his cutting, which does credit to the workman, and reflects honor on our country, for we have reason to believe it is the first ever cut in the United States." (4)
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...ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * The Cosmetic Packaging Group, a division of O. Berk Company, has introduced the Ronda Collection of flint glass bottles in both 15mm crimp and Europa (threaded) finishes. These bottles, available in 30-, 50- and 100ml, with a...
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O'Berk Company has created a range of flint glass lotion bottles called the Henelope Set. The collection includes bottles in 30ml, 20-410 finish and 60ml, 24-410 finish...
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The Cosmetic Packaging Group, a Union, NJ-based division of O.Berk, unveiled the 100ml Magenta Oval In flint glass with a 20mm crimp finish. Executives said the bottle is suited for fragrances and lotions that target arometharapy and upscale...