Bluebonnet-blue skies and warm Texas sunshine welcomed collectors of American glass, china and pottery to Washburn’s San Antonio Show on February 13-14, 1999. Well-known traveling dealer Kent Washburn stayed home this time, inviting 43 dealers from 18 states to participate in his very first show. Special guests included Philip L. Hopper, author of “Royal Ruby,” and Reyne Haines, a frequent art glass appraiser on the PBS “Antique Road Show.”
Major national dealers brought huge inventories of rare and unusual glass from the East and Gulf Coasts, the Midwest, several western states -- and, of course, Texas. The 1998 National Depression Glass Association convention attracted glass lovers from all over the country, and left them demanding more. What better than a mid-winter Texas-sized event, with romantic Valentine’s Day thrown in for good measure?
Early Saturday morning, as dealers arrived at the Live Oak Convention Center, serious collectors were already lined up at the door. Kent Washburn was on hand to greet first customers Ken and Glenna Helmke, who drove from Napoleon, OH, to find treasures in their favorite patterns, Mayfair “Open Rose” and Iris and Herringbone. They received a certificate and complimentary admission -- and definitely found plenty of glass. The rare pink Mayfair sugar lid tagged at nearly $5000? Well, not this time, but it was a treat to see!
Visitors came from many parts of Texas and from states as far away as Montana; honored as “first Canadian visitors” were Colleen and Irvin McCaw, who flew from Calgary, Alberta, especially for the show. Even a chartered tour group arrived -- another first; two lucky members won a copy of Kelly O’Kane’s Tiffin book and a subscription to Leonette Walls’ newsletter, Glass and More.
The Valentine’s Day theme meant heart-shaped bowls and candies, lots of ruby glass, couples shopping hand in hand for a special item, and several spouses or sweethearts who simply turned over the checkbook or credit card and said, “Whatever you want, honey...have fun!” Leonette and Carl Walls (AL) served red fruit punch from a Fostoria American punchbowl, a big hit with show-goers. Before the show opened Sunday morning, Nan and Jack Anderson (CA), celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary, received a lovely heart-decorated cake and congratulations from their fellow dealers.
Quantities of glass and pottery filled hundreds of tables -- rare and seldom-seen examples as well as well as plenty of “I need to fill out my set” pieces. Besides the pink Mayfair sugar lid, other rare items included a blue Princess cookie jar and a cobalt Criss Cross pitcher, whose asking prices also approached $5000, plus potentially experimental green Princess sherbets and a creamer and sugar. Among Cambridge rarities were a light blue nude comport, two styles of Rosepoint dinner plates, a Diane 60 oz. tall martini pitcher and a red Diane lamp. American Sweetheart collectors had to choose among a blue console bowl, a red tidbit, a monax mini console bowl, and a red luncheon set for four. Catching the eye were a whole tableful of blue Versailles; a yellow Pyramid pitcher; Heisey and Fostoria stems in many patterns; a couple of topaz Florentine 2 gravy sets; Rock Crystal candy jars in pink, ruby and amber; several Candlewick birthday plates; and a jadite ball jug, cruet and batter bowls.
Dealers and exhibitors represented Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
Several dealers were first-time Texas exhibitors. Jim and Linda Finnegan (MD) featured American dinnerware along with elegant and depression glass; John and Judith Carroll’s (NY) booth was filled with Adam to Windsor patterns. Joanne, Dale and Janine Bender (CA) probably set a show record with 19 tables of glassware that included Cataract-Sharpe and Tiffin stems, Fostoria amethyst Jamestown and cobalt Victorian stems plus Hermitage and Baroque in myriad colors.
A walk through the show revealed many choices for DG enthusiasts. Penny Renner (IN) offered pink Miss America, Cherry Blossom, Lace Edge and Doric, plus blue Royal Lace and Mayfair. Victor Elliott’s (CA) booth contained Westmoreland’s Beaded Edge, cobalt Moderntone, black Cloverleaf and mountains of green and pink DG. Dorothy Fletcher (AR) set out green Georgian and Cloverleaf plus black Mount Pleasant. Highlighting the booth of Betty and Dale Bass (KS) were jadite wares, including a ball jug; Akro Agate children’s dishes and a Homespun children’s tea set in its original box.
Elegant glassware took center stage. Jo and Bill Curtis (TX) offered Heisey stems in Lariat, Orchid, Plantation, Rose, Victorian, Arcadia and Crystolite. In Doris Duke’s (TX) booth were Fostoria’s ruby Jamestown and Cambridge Rosepoint stems. Larry Cook (IA) featured a New Martinsville Radiance decanter, an Imperial Candlewick 80 oz. pitcher, and Tiffin handled baskets in black satin, blue and vaseline. From Anita and Harry Wood (TX) came a pink Jamestown pitcher and stems. Fostoria’s blue Navarre, pink and green Versailles, and crystal Meadowrose stood out in Patricia and Ron Hildreth’s (CA) booth.
Penny and Elliot Drucker’s (CA) specialty, Candlewick, filled three tables; Heisey Ridgeleigh dominated another table, and Cambridge in Farberware presented a colorful array. Dorothy Decker (LA) sold Cambridge Wildflower and blue Navarre stems, and there was also yellow June. Heisey Alexandrite and Zircon were eye-catchers in the booth of Mary Ann and David Gaydos (OH).
Longtime collectors Leegh and Michael Wyse (OR) sold ruffled blue Royal Lace candlesticks and several berry bowls, plus a Morgantown aquamarine Sunrise Medallion pitcher and parfaits. Judy and John Bine (MO) offered a Cambridge Wildflower pitcher and a number of Cambridge nudes. Jean Paris (TX) sold a Heisey candelabra.
Pottery lovers found Franciscan patterns, Fiesta and LuRay. Jane and Bill Winstead (CA) brought Franciscan Desert Rose, Ivy, Starburst, Duet and October. More Franciscan, plus kitchenware and Roseville, filled the booth shared by Betty Berger (LA) and Denise Germer (TX).
Value guides and reference books on American glass, china and pottery were available from booksellers Sharon and Pat Ervin (IL).
Guest author Philip Hopper displayed three tables of Hocking’s Royal Ruby, presented two seminars on the subject and helped collectors identify their finds. A sequel to his meticulously researched book “Royal Ruby” is in the works.
Reyne Haines, co-owner with Daniela Doneca of the internet site Just Glass Auctions, provided art glass identification and shared her expertise on both glassware and the internet in seminars entitled “Buying and Selling on the Internet.” A lobby display featured exceptional examples of decorated Steuben, Tiffany and Loetz glass.
Leonette Walls’ seminar “Exciting Finds and New Research” offered insight into collectors’ efforts to identify and document American-made glassware.
Displays of glass from private collections ringed the Rocket Room. “Black Elegance” by Nan and Jeff Jones (TX) showed off many examples of black glass. Jean and Lee Spaulding (KS) brought Fenton’s opalescent hobnail for a display aptly named “A Rainbow of Color.” Carol and Julian McEwen (KS) filled a table with Fenton’s Aqua Crest. Place settings of green Parrot (Sylvan) were arranged by Leegh and Michael Wyse (OR), and Kent Washburn’s collection of gray Laurel was accented by elegant black stems.
Kathy and Ken Price (TX) displayed ruby stemware from Fostoria, Morgantown, Cambridge and other companies. Cambridge Everglades in crystal, blue and green made a dramatic display by Nedra and Don Tinney (TX). An extensive Porcelier collection from Eileen Holt (TX) offered a variety of coffee servers, teapots and other serving pieces.
Morgantown etching plates and a step-by-step explanation of their cleaning process made a unique display by Donna and Bert Kennedy (TX).
Inside the main showroom, “A Rising Star” highlighted a new generation of collectible glass, Avon’s ruby Cape Cod, arranged by Patty & Bill Foti on a lighted, revolving display. A collection of glass and pottery-related ephemera assembled by Cadia Los (WA) included over 800 vintage magazine ads, catalogs and brochures. The most talked about item in this display -- a still sealed 1-lb. box of Crystal Wedding Oats that contains a mystery piece of Hocking’s Early American Prescut glass.
The premiere edition of Washburn’s San Antonio Show is history. Many dealers and collectors are already planning to attend the next one, scheduled for February 12-13, 2000.
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