A large number of glass drinking vessels—including tumblers, stemware, and pitchers—were recovered from this shaft feature. Due to the volume of material, this section is devoted to drinking vessels; other types of glass tableware are discussed separately.

Tumblers

From among the fragmentary drinking vessels, we were able to mend examples of 37 colorless glass tumblers, an assortment of which are shown here. Tumblers are one of the most frequently encountered tableware forms recovered from archaeological sites. ¹ The substantial numbers of mended tumblers recovered from this feature provided an opportunity for study and comparison. Closer inspection of this assemblage revealed matching pieces from at least eight different sets, represented by two or more tumblers of the same design and base treatment. While several tumblers appeared to have the same number of flutes, the final determining factor in identifying pieces as parts of sets came down to the bases being finished or unfinished.

Fluted Tumblers

Many of the colorless glass tumblers are decorated with a similar pattern, consisting of six, eight, or nine flutes. As noted in “A Guide to Dating Glass Tableware: 1800 to 1940,” “Pressed paneled (fluted) tumblers were introduced in the mid to late 1830s.” ² This design was manufactured over a long period of time, making it difficult to date. ³ The majority of the fluted tumblers from this shaft were manufactured by pressing the design into the glass—however, one set of five heavy tumblers displays cut panels. It is interesting to note that while all five exhibit the same cut design and appear the same, only one of the five shows lead content when placed under a blacklight.

During the second half of the nineteenth century, tumblers were used to serve a wider variety of non-alcoholic beverages. ⁴ Among the recovered fluted tumblers, there are noted differences in size that may reflect the consumption of specific beverages. One example is noticeably taller than the rest, with six broad flutes and a molded recessed base (4A-G-0292). This tumbler appears similar to an illustration of a “Soda” from the King, Son & Co. catalog. ⁵ Another short tumbler with a band of 12 small flutes around the lower body seems to match the drawing of a “Fluted Punch” in the same catalog (4A-G-0242). ⁶

Other Pressed Patterns

Krom

A small—but heavy—lead glass tumbler with a large pressed design is tentatively identified as Krom (4A-G-0128). ⁷ The pattern features seven pointed arches reaching nearly halfway up the body and topped between two points by rounded flutes. This early pattern is believed to date from around the 1830s. ⁸ The description of Krom from the Price Guide to Antiques and Pattern Glass notes that this pattern was “made by an unknown manufacturer from clear flint glass and is only documented in two forms: goblets and several sizes of whiskey.” ⁹ If this early date of production is accurate, this tumbler may have been an object belonging to the Cramp or Mickle families for a decade or more before they moved to their new home on Palmer Street in the early 1850s.

Ashburton

Pieces of three matching non-lead tumblers in the Ashburton pattern were identified (4A-G-0260). Ashburton was a popular early pressed pattern manufactured by several factories over a long period of time. ¹⁰ According to the authors of Early American Pattern Glass 1850–1910, “Early pieces are heavier and more brilliant than later issues.” ¹¹ The recovered examples are thick compared to some of the other tumblers in this assemblage and varying degrees of patina on all three vessels obscure any former brilliance.

Bull’s Eye Rosette

A single example of another early pattern was hard to locate in the common glass references (4A-G-0256). In the first volume of The Glass Industry in Sandwich, Barlow and Kaiser state that “this pattern is difficult to find because it was produced in limited quantity.” ¹² The same source illustrates and describes a similar tumbler: “The hexagonal bottom of the tumbler was created by six flutes that extend one-third up the sidewall. Three large rosettes alternating with three bull’s eyes complete the upper portion.” ¹³ Although the rosettes on the tumbler recovered from this site are incomplete, something about them seems familiar. Barlow and Kaiser remarked on this: “The element known as a rosette in this pattern closely resembles the sunburst of contemporary blown molded patterns.” ¹⁴ In another reference, a tumbler with a similar pattern is illustrated and identified as “Chilson.” ¹⁵

Loop and Crystal

Although this pattern is not as heavily pressed into the glass as some of the others, it does have distinct lines around the edges of the flutes. The design consists of nine pointed flutes around the lower half of the body, topped with nine rounded flutes positioned above, between the points (4A-G-0262). This non-lead glass tumbler has a thin finished base with a raised ring about 1.5 inches in diameter at the center. The same pattern is illustrated on a goblet in a collector’s guide, where it is referred to as “Loop and Crystal.” ¹⁶ It is attributed to McKee & Bros. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and dated to the 1860s. ¹⁷

Thumbprint (Handled)

This small colorless lead glass tumbler features three bands of a repeating oval design known as Thumbprint (4A-G-0295). In Early American Pattern Glass 1850–1910, Jenks and Luna state: “Early items in Thumbprint are of heavy flint with applied handles…” ¹⁸ Although most of the handle is missing on the recovered example, evidence of the tooled lower attachment point is still visible (lower left above base). Bakewell, Pears & Co. of Pittsburgh made the Thumbprint pattern, circa 1850–1860. ¹⁹ It was another popular early pattern produced by many glass works. Also worthy of note is that the recovered tumbler is similar in height and dimension to other early pressed patterns discussed above: Bull’s Eye Rosette and Krom.

Aqua Tumblers

Three pressed aqua tumblers were recovered, the most complete example featuring a well-formed applied handle. While initially all three were thought to be pieces from a matched set, closer inspection revealed that the handled tumbler was a lighter shade of aqua and had a thicker base finished differently than the other two. The outer edge of the handled tumbler base showed a pattern of fine scratches that appeared to reflect moderate use wear (4A-G-301). The darker aqua tumblers showed similar base thickness, with a raised ring at the center (approximately 1.4 inches in diameter) (4A-G-302, 4A-G-303). The rings on the exterior base are identical, although slightly smaller than the one noted above on the base of the Loop and Crystal pattern tumbler. Both bases had a rougher finish, but appeared to show light use wear. The partially mended rim of one of the matching tumblers was poorly finished and the interior edge turns in; an extra piece of glass adheres to the rim, which would have made it difficult to drink from that section. Despite the differences between these aqua tumblers, all three were most likely manufactured in one of the local bottle glass factories in the neighborhood.

Mephistopheles

The tumbler shown here features a pressed pattern known as Mephistopheles (4A-G-0131; height 3.4 inches). Drinking vessels in this pattern were made in Germany and the United States during the late nineteenth century. This example was recovered from a privy shaft located at 1018 Palmer Street, the former residence of members of the Cramp and Bumm families.

The front and back of this lead glass tumbler feature a pressed medallion decoration of Mephistopheles that provides the pattern with its name (4A-G-0131). ²⁰ Although no evidence of a handle was recovered, published examples of this tumbler and images on auction sites show this form bearing an oval loop handle embellished with a dragon’s head. This mask-like head stands out on a finely stippled or textured background created as part of the pressed design. This pattern was made in Germany and in the United States in the late nineteenth century. ²¹

Etched Heron/Stork

Although patches of patina obscure much of the pattern, a plate etched marsh scene of a heron or stork catching a butterfly can be seen on this thin lead glass tumbler (4A-G-0130). This tumbler is not only thinner than all of the drinking vessels discussed above, it’s also lighter. Olive R. Jones points out that “thin, light tumblers were being made as early as the 1870s.” ²² Although a few pieces are missing, this tumbler weighs only 95.8 grams, compared to a nearly complete fluted tumbler weighing 263.9 grams and the Ashburton tumbler at 240 grams. In describing plate etching, Jones states: “A simpler process, in which the acid pattern was put on paper and then applied to the glass was developed in the 1870s.” ²³ The undated Gillinder and Sons catalog shows two variants of a similar landscape scene with waterfowl etched onto lamp globes. ²⁴

Stemmed Drinking Glasses

Some variety is seen among the different sizes of stemmed drinking vessels recovered from this site. While the range of stemmed vessels might be in part explained by the many years of residence at 1018 Palmer Street, this assemblage may also reflect Victorian period fashion. Philadelphian Eliza Leslie offered the following advice in her Lady’s House Book:

At the right hand of every plate place a tumbler, and one or more wine-glasses, according to the variety of wines that are to be brought to table; it being customary to drink different wines out of different sorts of glasses; the fashionable glass for each wine varying so frequently, that it is difficult in this respect to give any rules… ²⁵

In apparent support of this fashion, the period glass catalogs often provided matching patterns of stemware in five sizes: cordial, wine, claret, champagne, and goblet. ²⁶ It can be challenging to differentiate some of these forms from the fragmented assemblages recovered archaeologically. To add to the confusion of identifying stemmed vessels, glass manufacturers frequently offered additional pieces with stems or “on a foot,” such as egg cups, salts, and ale glasses.

Blown and Molded Stemmed Vessels

This stemmed vessel is decorated with a wide band of 12 cut flutes on the bowl. This drinking vessel, 4.75 inches in height, features a baluster stem and hand-applied foot shaped with a footing tool (4A-G-129). This vessel was excavated from a privy shaft associated with 1018 Palmer Street in Kensington.

The stemmed vessels recovered from this feature reflect an assortment of sizes and various methods of manufacture. Some were free blown or shaped in a mold, like the examples shown above (4A-G-285 and 4A-G-129). These two stemmed vessels each exhibit a baluster stem with a hand-applied foot shaped using a footing tool. Although difficult to see in the photo, the bowl of 4A-G-129 is decorated with a wide band of 12 cut flutes. This vessel appears to be part of a set, as a less complete example featuring the same stem and foot, as well as a similar cut design, was also recovered. The flutes on the second example are not as wide and the count shows that an extra flute was cut to make the total number 13.

Another shorter piece of colorless non-lead stemware (4A-G-241) features a deep tulip-shaped bowl and a short heavy stem with a rounded knop that appears to be drawn from the solid, poorly formed foot. The entire base of the foot was ground, probably to make it stand flat on the table.

Pressed Cordials

The small lead glass cordial shown here is pressed in the Washington pattern (4A-G-284; height 4 inches), The pattern is known to have been produced by New England Glass Company. This vessel and a fragment of a second cordial in the same pattern were recovered from a privy shaft located at 1018 Palmer Street.

The small colorless lead glass cordial (shown above) features the Washington pressed pattern (4A-G-284). This pattern is known to have been produced by New England Glass Company and illustrated in their 1869 catalog. ²⁷ The fragments recovered from this shaft feature suggest the presence of at least two cordials in this pattern (the more complete example is shown).

The nearly complete bowl of another small cordial in the Sharp Diamond or Diamond Point pattern was also recovered (not shown). ²⁸ The Sharp Diamond pattern was illustrated in the 1868 catalog of the New England Glass Company. ²⁹

Pressed Goblets

Several larger pieces of stemware were identified as goblets and feature various types of decoration. Two matching pieces display a pressed pattern known as Leaf and Dart (4A-G-137). ³⁰ The more complete example is shown above. This pattern is identified with the Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Company of Pittsburgh and dates to circa 1875. ³¹

Another goblet is represented only by the bowl and a section of the fluted stem (4A-G-238). This vessel is pressed in a pattern called Mitchell and features an etched motif below the rim known as fern and berry. ³² The unidentified plain bowl fragment of another goblet exhibits three acid-etched horizontal bands (4A-G-294). One additional bowl fragment appears to be from a goblet with a pressed honeycomb design around the lower half of the bowl. This was a popular pattern made by many different glassworks during the final quarter of the nineteenth century. ³³ Advertised in period glass catalogs under a variety of different names, the pattern is known to modern collectors as honeycomb. ³⁴

Serving Vessels

Large Footed Pitcher

This large colorless pitcher of non-lead glass has a pressed fluted foot and graceful hand-applied handle (4A-G-0282). The recovered example is similar in form to quart and half-gallon pitchers illustrated under “Plain Ware” in the King, Son and Company catalog, produced by the Cascade Glass Works in Pittsburgh. ³⁵ This undated catalog is believed to date from the early through mid-1870s. By the 1870s, the handles for vessels were starting to be pressed in molds rather than being individually formed by glassworkers. ³⁶ Large glass pitchers were often used to hold ice water on the sideboard.

Recumbent Lion Creamer

The shorter pitcher is a creamer pressed from lead glass and displays a lion motif on a flaring, collared foot (4A-G-0168). The outer edge of the base is trimmed with a cable design. This pattern is identified as “Recumbent Lion” or “Lion” and was manufactured by Gillinder & Sons in Philadelphia around 1877. ³⁷ Sections of vessels made in this pattern were typically frosted via acid-etching. The recovered example is clear, colorless glass, although weathering gives it a cloudy appearance. The authors of Early American Pattern Glass note that “all-clear pieces (like this one) are unusual.” ³⁸

Piecing It Together

While drinking vessels are more prone to accidental breakage during use, the numbers encountered and presence of partial sets seem to suggest that some of the tumblers were intentionally discarded while still intact. Although many of these vessels cannot be tightly dated, some of the technologies exhibited provide a sense of an accumulation of glassware over a period of time. The variety of vessels represented provides a large sample for continued comparison and analysis.