Bowl and stand

Date 1890

Mediumsilverplate; glass; gilt

Object number1998.29.3

Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum

DescriptionRoyal Flemish glass was first advertised in 1889, but not patented until 1894. It is a decorated camphor glass with a strikingly dramatic appearance. The surface is usually divided into sections by heavy gold lines. These sections are colored and decorated. On some pieces, large open areas are left for elaborate enameling. Many of the same forms and decorations that were used for Crown Milano were used for Royal Flemish. Some pieces are signed with the “R F” monogram with a backward “R.” Royal Flemish is generally considered to be the top of the line when it comes to Mount Washington glass. Almost all Royal Flemish patterns are decorated with at least some gold gilt. Most pieces will also have maroon as one of the dominant colors. The acidized finish is a ubiquitous attribute applied to each object that could be done either before or after decoration. The artists at Mount Washington had to hand decorate each article.

This Royal Flemish bowl has a wide, flat bottom. It is transparent, acid-finished, and decorated with painted enameled chrysanthemums on a Pairpoint quadruple silver plated cherub stand. The cherub has a free flowing garment about the waist with feet firmly planted and arms outstretched to hold up the bowl.

Mt. Washington and its successor, the Pairpoint Corporation, were one of America’s longest-running luxury glass companies in operation from 1837 to 1957; for 87 of those 120 years they were located in New Bedford. Constantly reinventing and re-invigorating the business through creativity in texture, decoration, pattern, and color, the companies developed a variety of styles and decorating techniques which were so technically complex that few are practiced today. Mt. Washington and Pairpoint rivaled fine art glass manufacturers like Tiffany and Steuben in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

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