Philadelphia Antiques Show 2024

86 PMA COL L ECT S FIGURE 10: Celery Vase Attributed to Bakewell, Page & Bakewell Pittsburgh, 1815–1825 Blown lead glass with cut and engraved decoration, 8 1/2 × 5 1/2 inches Purchased with the Center for American Art Acquisition Fund, 2019 Glass From the 2019 Show, curator David Barquist and I were enthralled by two pieces of glass in the booth of Ian Simmonds. We acquired the Celery Vase (Figure 10) made in Pittsburgh between 1815 and 1825 by Page and Bakewell with exquisitely engraved decoration. Artisans—many of whom were recruited from France, such as Alexander Jardelle—advanced the technique at Page and Bakewell of Pittsburgh. The charming late 1830s Pitcher (Figure 11) can be firmly attributed to Philadelphia’s Union Flint Glass Company located in the Kensington section of the city from 1826 to 1840; Richard Synar (or Synor), the glassworks’ proprietor, owned a pair of identical pitchers. Small and quite substantial in its weight, this pitcher has the appearance of fine cut glass but is made using the less expensive technique of pressed glass.