American Brilliant Cut:
Brilliant Cut Glass from the American Brilliant Period 1870-1910 was entirely handmade. It is considered some of the most beautiful glassware ever made in the United States and rivaled both the Irish and the English makers who had held the lead in glassmaking for the most part since the glassware industry had become successful. It took days to make the glass and many workers to complete the product. It was a very expensive process and only the rich could afford this type of glass in the Brilliant Period.
H.C. FRY - Asteroid Pattern
Wheel cut daisies, deep cut leaves, and a single feather fern-like leaf on each side of the pitcher create the main design on this beautifully crafted pitcher from the early 1900s known as the American Brilliant period. Two bands of the cane or chair bottom pattern accent the daisy and leaf design. One band is at the top and the other band is at the bottom. In addition there are 5 bands of deep cuts under the lip of the pitcher and along the top rim 8 deep cuts on each side create a sawtooth design. There is a large sunburst design on the bottom. The pitcher is 11" tall and was cut on a thick blank, so it is very heavy. When black light tested, the glass glowed a bright yellow green. This is H.C. Fry's Asteroid pattern (Collector's Encyclopedia of Fry Glassware by H.C.Fry Glass Society p. 40 and 43).
The crystal is so clear it is almost like looking through water. It has a very high lead content and that give the glass a high refraction. It also makes the pitcher very heavy.
The crystal is so clear it is almost like looking through water. It has a very high lead content and that give the glass a high refraction. It also makes the pitcher very heavy.