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The advertisement shown above is from an MVMOAG, "All About Glass, Vol.2 No.2" article from Lee Marples. A great read and has fantastic catalog illustrations from 6 different trade companies.

The description from the 1892 BB "Santa Claus" wholesale advertisement corresponds with the two spangle baskets in view. Spangle glass is described to have a "Snow Flake" effect from one of the advertisement. Clever and imaginative wording to use from a decor to promote sales during the holiday season when the illustration is black and white.

First advertisement:
"Various lot assortment of extra stable goods. Various artistic shapes in the popular double or lined glass in exquisite brocaded or antique patterns, with crystal handles in odd shapes. Assorted colours, such as citron, raspberry, blue speckled, etc."

Second advertisement:
"A moderate quantity assortment to retail at popular prices. Made of double or lined glass in all the latest artistic shapes, with scalloped edges, crystal rims, and tinted bodies is soft colours, as blue, yellow, rose, ect. A few in each style have incomparable snow flake or mottled glass effect."

Marples who is a well known author of Phoenix (American) glass includes in the article most of the domestic market lacked the technical expertise required to produce baskets. These baskets require a special shaped mold and a tool to make the crimped edge. Baskets also consist of double lined glass that is coloured glass sandwiched between opal and crystal layers, as stated.

The article covers examples of Bohemian baskets from 1891 - 1897. Of the illustrated examples there are various types of handles such as thorn, twisted and braided rope. I would like to confirm from the Fall 1928 BB basket advertisement in the WVMOAG catalog, monograpgh No. 121, there are three illustrated baskets showing the thorn handle design. It is estimated for 36 years the thorn handle design used on baskets never lost it's marketable trend.

The two basket examples shown have white - opal interior and spangle decor. One basket is "tinted" and the other is "mottled" as described in the BB advertisements. Both are cased in crystal.

Maker is unknown at this point. The appreciation to find in this story is the Bohemian export business produced beautiful and inexpensive glass-wares commercially for many successful years to the American and British market.

Collecting baskets can be intriguing. There are many fascinating colourful decors to be found in the same basket shape. As the production through the years of baskets changed there are similarities still found in the shape. Also, identical shaped baskets were produced in a various decors. Other shapes such as a vase or bowl with the same matching decor as a basket shape can sometimes be found in the search of collecting.

IMHO- if Loetz, Rindskopf, etc. was mass produced for the commercial market, it would be easy to find, but it's not. There is something to be said about quality show room glass sold in a department store such as Wanamaker's or London's Royal Exchange and commercial glass sold at F. W. Woolworth's, a "Five and Dime" store. The concept of a Five and Dime store was successful in the US and in England during the same time frame when Bohemian glass was mass produced for commercial export. Wholesale catalogs represented the traveling salesman for fast service to anyone in the retail merchant business.

Baskets are one of my favorite subjects to research. It would be nice to establish a time line to show the years of production by example. For me, it is a goal to figure out what is Bohemian and what is not through wholesale catalog advertisements. This CW story is the earliest examples to start. One can never have enough examples or afford to buy it all when it comes to research. If you would like to help me out with finding examples to use for research, please send pics to Leahpia6@aol.com. I would truly appreciate any help.

I would like to give special THANKS to my dear friends, Zelda and Nelson for helping me with this story.