09-013.
Found on April 30, 2009 in Minneapolis, MN.
Russel Wright
American Modern sherbet
Old Morgantown Glassware Guild, Inc.
USA, 1951
3.75 x 3.75 x 2.75"
Glass
Unsigned
Last night Kate and I returned from the longest stay we've had in Minneapolis in a very long time. While she attended a 5-day conference, I thrifted.
Even though I had so much time to shop, pickings were fairly slim. Besides a handful of Vera scarves, we really only came home with this single American Modern sherbet. But it was so incredibly gratifying to find something like this in the thrift store, it made up for the many shops I emerged from empty-handed.
The one disappointment, however, was a near-miss at this same store. I actually approached the check out counter with a second glass in my hands — a matching American Modern water goblet. As I stood in line, I noticed a chip on it's rim. Back to the shelf it went, and I continued on my shopping adventure with a single glass to show for my efforts. And I was happy about it.
I was also happy it survived the trip home nestled in t-shirts for protection.
Tiffany commented: Just to educate myself, how did you know it was Russel Wright? Were there markings?
- 5.7.09
- Website
Scott commented: The Morgantown glassware isn't marked, Tiffany. It originally was sold with paper labels, that unless the glass went unused for the past 60 years normally got washed off. The only way to know for certain that what you are looking at is actually Russel Wright's "American Modern" glassware and not a lookalike (there are a few of those) is to learn the shapes, the feel of the glass, and the color palette Wright used. Some specific clues are an unrounded rim (a molded piece normally has a sort of "lip", where a hand mold blown piece will most often have a clean sharp rim), the sleek uninterrupted curve of the bowl through the stem and to the foot, and often the inclusion of tiny bubbles in the glass again due to their handmade nature. Knowing for certain comes more from experience than anything else, unfortunately. Good luck!
- 5.7.09
- Website
robert devine commented: Hi Scott, Nice find! these are getting much tuffer to come by in the thrifts. One of my greatest thrift finds was a set of 8 Old Morgantown smoke double old fashions. They were 99c each and one had a tiny tic on the rim brought the 7 perfect ones to the counter when I realised hey you dumb *ss why are you going to leave the one nonperfect one behind its a double and its 99c?! Went back and bought it as well. Traded several years later to Carmen/Pierre for rare restyled butter/gravy and think I have the one flawed example left. It looks like yours is clear but my thoughts are its coral is it? best, robert