Smiling Pool Harrison Cady Art Glass Thornton Burgess Animal Pairpoint Cup Plate

Description

Smiling Pool Sandwich MA Harrison Cady Animals Pairpoint Glass Cup Plate 109
Vintage Thornton W Burgess Society Mantel Art Glass
Made in USA
This charming ice blue 3.5 inch crystal Pairpoint Glass cup plate features the Smiling Pool from the Thornton Burgess stories. The Green Briar Nature Center in Sandwich, Massachusetts borders the Smiling Pool and abuts the Dear Old Briar Patch, which is the setting for Peter Rabbit's adventures. The design was an adaptation of a Harrison Cady illustration. The plates shows Longlegs, the Great Blue Heron; Snapper the Turtle; Phoebe the Flycatcher; and Peter Rabbit. This dated 1981 plate was limited to a pressing of 7,500. There were about 6,000 in ice blue and 1,500 in clear. This cup plate would make thoughtful baby shower gift when a paired with a classic Thornton Burgess book. Thornton W. Burgess was the creator of Peter Rabbit and his animal friends in the Dear Old Briar Patch, the Smiling Pool, the Green Meadow and the Laughing Brook. The Thornton Burgess Society, which ran the former Burgess museum in Sandwich, Massachusetts, sold cup plates bearing the imprint of the characters to help fund the museum.
Note: The photo with the macarons is for size illustration only.
Additional Information
Cup plates are small coaster size decorative art glass collectibles that measure about
3.5 inches
in diameter and .5 inch in height.
The pictures are taken close and could show blemishes that are not necessarily seen by the naked eye. The photos that show the greatest detail generally appear a little different than the actual color.
Made in America. The Pairpoint Glass Co. of Sagamore, MA, which is on Cape Cod, is the oldest glass making company in America. The company is well-known for manufacturing quality crystal cup plates since the 1920's.
Pairpoint cup plates are a unique work of art. Cup plates were signed with the Pairpoint trademark and the initials/monogram of the engraver. Using traditional freehand methods, the engraver worked directly in steel using a hammer and chisel. Using an antique press that made early cup plates, the vintage plates were hand pressed in 34% lead crystal. The majority of vintage crystal cup plates were commissioned by historical societies, museums, churches, and other non-profit organizations.
Pairpoint graded their plates at the factory. First quality plates, which came with a Pairpoint label/sticker, were the most desirable. It is normal that first quality plates may have handcrafted characteristics such as a swirl in the center of the plate, small lines not part of the design, bubbles, specks or tiny flecks. If a cup plate has a sticker, it will be visible in a photo or mentioned in the description. Sometimes the sticker/label was removed by the original owner, so I mention the grading process only as a guideline.
Today cup plates are used as window sill decorations as the vintage glass art looks lovely displayed on a window sill with the light shining through. Other uses include:
Dinner table butter pat, tea bag, or mint dishes
Guest favors for weddings or showers
Guest soap, ring, trinket, or vanity dishes
Small coaster size plates for gourmet appetizers, chocolates, or cupcakes
Eclectic glass for stained glass or other art glass projects
Shipping
Cup plates are bubble wrapped in vintage boxes that are packed and mailed promptly. The vintage boxes may be stained and have handwriting or labels.
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Shipping and import charges are calculated and paid for by the buyer upon checkout
About me as a Seller
The majority of the cup plates I sell belonged to my mother, who was an early member of Cape Cod's Pairpoint Cup Plate Collectors of America (PCPCA). She collected many vintage cup plates, and had most, if not all, of the limited editions. I enjoy offering cup plates to people who appreciate this unique form of art glass.
Be sure to check my store for current listings.
Visit My eBay Store: Cup Plates
where I have hundreds of vintage cup plates available. If you are looking for a specific plate or more of a listed design, let me know. If I have the cup plate, I will list it (I have many that are not listed).