Beautiful pale green Wavecrest, Nakara or Kelva Glass biscuit barrel or cracker jar with wild roses manufactured by the Van Bergh Silverplate Co.
No chips, cracks or repairs to this lovely antique biscuit barrel. Very clean on the inside. The silverplate rim does not polish to a mirror finish, therefore, we assume that this has an oxidized finish. The lid, though, polishes up to a mirror finish, with only very small area at the top edge showing silverplate wear. Decorative finial. No dents or damage to the silverplate.
Beautiful hand-painted roses design in various shades of peach.
Excerpts from an article written by Dorothy Rodefer in the program of the 1986 Bellaire Glass Festival - GLASS PIONEER - HOWARD RODEFER
Howard H. Rodefer had a life time love affair with the glass industry.
This plant was originally known as The National Glass Manufacturing Company from 1870 until 1877, when it was purchased by three brothers from Shadyside who were Albert, John, and Thornton Rodefer. They operated the factory as Rodefer Brothers until 1898 when Thornton, Howard's grandfather, became the sole owner. Upon his death in 1910, his son C. M. Rodefer assumed ownership. And so began the enduring interest and training for young Howard.
The products of The Rodefer Glass Co. - becoming in 1953 the Rodefer-Gleason Glass Company - through its 105 years of existence have mainly specialized items either hand-blown or hand-pressed for other manufacturers. This contrasts to the tableware items produced at the neighboring factories of Imperial or Fostoria. In the early years (1890-1910) opal glass blanks were sent to Meriden, Connecticut where C. F. Monroe's factory decorated the beautiful Wavecrest, Nakura, and Kelva vases, plaques, and boxes which are now treasured by antique collectors. The shades of the Handel lamp were made on 21st Street as were the globes in the railroad lanterns. The unusual curved panes of an Aztec Indian found in the Pan-American Building of Washington, D. C. were made at the plant. Upon the advent of the American Automobile Industry, large flat head lamp covers were sent to Bausch and Lomb in Rochester, New York and fancy round gearshift knobs to the Ford Motor Company in Michigan.
After the merger with Gleason in 1953, the product became lighting oriented with the production of huge glass globes used in street and airport lighting. These were made for General Electric, Westinghouse, and Emerson."
C.F. Monroe decorated opaque white glass beginning in the 1880s in Meriden, Connecticut. Much of the undecorated glassware he used was made by Pairpoint Manufacturing Company of Sagamore, Massachusetts, and some by french factories.
Three names were used on the pieces: Wavecrest, registered in 1892, Nakara, which was in use about the same time but never registered; and Kelva, which was registered in 1904. Wavecrest and Nakara can be difficult to tell apart. Both are painted in pastel colors with floral or scenic designs. Nakara often has beaded details and transfer-printed designs. Kelva always has areas of mottled color.
Dresser sets, jewel boxes, powder boxes, hair receivers, humidors, desk accessories, and other such wares were made. Many boxes have elaborate brass fittings and are satin-lined, although the original fabric is often missing. Very few pieces of Kelva, Nakara, or Wavecrest are labeled or signed.
This Victorian art glass biscuit barrel cracker jar measures 6" in diameter, approximately 8.5" tall and weighs 1 pound, 14.7 ounces. The biscuit barrel cracker jar lid is touchmarked with VAN BERGH SILVERPLATE CO., QUADRUPLE PLATE, Rochester, N.Y. and the pattern number 3105. You can read more about the history of Van Bergh Silverplate Company from our Silver Manufacturers page.
A1038 - VAN BERGH Silverplate Biscuit Barrel / Cracker Jar Wavecrest / Nakara / Kelva Glass
$275.00
