A selection of Jack in the pulpit glass vases from the John Alvino collection
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Press moulded vase in uranium / vaseline glass with opalescence.
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Most Americans know of the wild toxic woodland flower, 'Jack-in-the-Pulpit' but
how many also know it is the name given to an art-glass vase which imitates
that flower. If we look at the actual plant that is very common in certain
areas of the United States, we see the back part of the trumpet duly stands
upright
but then it comes forward as if a canopy to shield the 'Spathe' or 'Jack.' One
can also liken this to a Pulpit in a church, which has a canopy to assist in
the acoustics when a sermon is being preached.
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Enamelled clear amethyst glass vase by Moser.
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Contemporary opaque amethyst glass vase.
Maker unknown.
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The name in itself was given to the style of vase originally created by Louis
C. Tiffany around the turn of the century, but we all know such glassware, by
this famous glassmaker from the turn of the century, now commands very high
prices. However because of the importance of such a style, many other
glassmakers have made this style and they by no means cost those of Louis C
Tiffany.
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Boston and Sandwich red edged white milk glass vase.
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Thomas Webb Queens Burmese glass vase c.1880 Decoration by Jules Barb.
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Some nine or ten years ago I was fascinated by a vase in this style and shape
and found it so attractive. The workmanship that our forefathers or even their
ancestors put into producing such an item was bewildering to me. This started
my long quest to find out more about these vases and so I began a research
program into their history in the world of glass. This first
'Jack-in-the-Pulpit' vase had been bought for my by my late mother as a
birthday present and I wonder if she ever realised the fact from that glass
vase I began my personal interest in glass.
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Stevens & Williams cranberry opalescent & uranium / vaseline glass.
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Czech red and yellow striped glass vase.
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I have said that Tiffany created the style, well that is now known to be
incorrect, as the archive pattern books of Stevens & Williams reveal a
Jack-in-the-Pulpit styled vase is shown as being made in 1854. The reason
behind this fact is that English glassmakers of the last century never or
rarely ever named a style of vase, most were just given pattern numbers.
However, we know that most American glassmakers have always described styles of
vases or bowls.
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Dugan carnival glass vase in marigold.
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Contemporary Alum Bay Glass blue mottled vase.
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The first vase, that was discovered in my endeavour to find who made this style
of vase, was in Stevens and Williams pattern book dated 1854, I believe, now to
be the first example of the style now known as 'Jack-in-the-Pulpit.' From that
date I found various styles that all had the basic common theme of a vase with
an upturned back and a turned down front, some even had pinched in sides and/or
pulled in backs.
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Stevens and Williams Cranberry and trailed clear glass vase.
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Fenton white milk glass
red 'Prayer Rug' vase.
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From Stevens and Williams, my research took me to find the old pattern books of
other major English 19th Century Glassmakers. My list was pretty comprehensive
with the likes of Thomas Webb & Sons, Richardsons, Webb-Corbett, Stuart, and
many smaller British Companies. Some of the vases have rounded backs and
pointed fronts, others have crimped edges to the trumpet and the earliest ones
all seem to have the back pulled in as per the 1854 style found in the Stevens
and Williams pattern book for that year.
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Gibson irridescent blue glass toothpick holder.
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Gunderson Peach Blow glass vase.
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The first evidence of a Richardson, Jack-in-the-Pulpit was found against
reference number 9165 for the year 1876. This showed a vase with both a rounded
front and rear to the trumpet as well as having both the front turned down and
the back flipped up. The height was given as 6 inches.
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Contemporary black milk glass vase.
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Opalescent green glass ocean shell whimsy.
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The English made Jack-in-the-Pulpits command nowhere near as much in price as
those of Tiffany, but they are just as beautiful, and in the eyes of some are
more artistic. The vases were made in a multitude of colours and some had very
attractive applied chainwork with applied petal leaf bases. Not only being
found as having been made in England and America but also in most glass areas
of Europe. Some of the latter day pieces are very often Czechoslovakian and
they are usually priced within the reach of most pockets.
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Richardson opalescent uranium / vaseline glass.
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Opalescent peach glass 'Jester's Cap'.
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The natural Jack-in-the-Pulpit is a poisonous plant and that alone, apart from
the fact one is animal and vegetable whereas the other is wood or metal, is the
only difference. The fact that we find such vases dating back to 1854 in the
archive pattern books of Stevens & Williams clearly indicates that the idea of
such a style could well have been taken from the common wild flower similar to
a Jack-in-the-Pulpit, which is found in the British Isles and commonly called
'Lords and Ladies'. Again this style of vase had been produced for more than 50
years within the glass making areas of England, a good forty years before any
of those produced by Louis C. Tiffany.
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Purple slag glass vase.
Maker Unknown.
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Large irridescent glass
trumpet vase
by Terry Crider
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At this point one can find no previous American Glassmaker making this style
subsequent to Tiffany. We know of the likes of Nash, Northwood and Carder all
starting up in the States and it is very evident that the design produced by
both Tiffany and Steuben was gained from their knowledge of the style they had
left behind in England.
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Thomas Webb blue Coralene glass vase.
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Gold Aurene glass vase by Steuben
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And so, inspiration of our forefathers and our forefathers fathers has given
something of beauty for all to enjoy and marvel at. The Art of the Glassmaker
is tested to his highest degree in producing this style of vase in glass. Carl
Radke of Phoenix Studios in California said, 'Jack~in~the~Pulpit' vases are
extremely hard to make. 'Making a Jack iridescent, is ten fold more difficult!'
Carl became intrigued with the technical difficulty of making Jacks, hundreds
of them make it no further than the floor, hundreds more sold off as seconds,
even today his success rate is only about 80%. It is people like Carl who are
reviving the art of our ancestors and may they continue to do so for many years
to come.
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Stevens and Williams trailed glass vase. Dated 1854.
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Contemporary Abelman Art-Glass Studio vase.
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Many glassmakers in the US have also made this style in varying styles and
perhaps the most notable apart from Tiffany and Steuben must be those made by
Fenton Art-glass. Frank Fenton has been very helpful in researching these vases
and it was Fenton who initially called them 'Tulip' vases in their earlier
catalogues. Now they are both referred to as either 'Jack~in~the~Pulpit' or
'Tulip' vases. Fenton archive records show many fine examples of this style
being made throughout their history and some lines are still in current
production now.
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Fenton Heart Optics glass vase.
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Fenton opalescent striped cranberry
glass vase.
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In the UK the art of making this style has not gone, with Okra Glass of
Stourbridge and John Ditchfield under the company banner of Glasform, both
making some fine examples in varying iridescent finishes. The main problem
these days confronting the Glassmaker is that they are forced by law not to use
ingredients that were used in the latter part of the last century and the
beginning of this one.
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Lundberg glass vase in Quetzal style.
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Murano glass vase.
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In my own collection I have so many styles both old and new, free blown, blow
moulded and pressed versions. It is not only glassmakers of England, America
and Europe that have continued to produce this style of vase, and a special
note should be taken on those made by 'Murano'. The style and workmanship that
goes into these vases must have impressed even the Italians and hence they took
up the challenge and started to produce them in the heavy glass we have come to
know as 'Murano'. Likewise we see current vases being made in Czechoslovakia
and I am sure it will not be long before the Far Eastern countries follow suit.
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Richardson opalescent striped and trailed uranium vaseline glass vase
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Tiffany Gold Favrile glass vase.
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Jack-in-the-Pulpit vases come in a full range of shapes, sizes, colours and
finish and possibly the most sort after are those in Cranberry or in Peachblow.
However it matters not what colour, or style adaptation it is a vase with a
long history and stands proud in the cabinets of many glass collectors world
wide.
Many would say that the newer pieces out there in the market place are
'reproductions', but so what. Any vase of this style will always appeal to the
lover of them, no matter if old or new. With those of Tiffany, Steuben, Stevens
and Williams, Richardsons and Thomas Webb & Sons commanding the highest of
prices, the current market place still allows one to build a collection at a
very reasonable price considering the artistry which goes into making them.
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Tiffany Gold Favrile glass vase.
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Victorian Uranium / Vaseline Glass Vase.
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So whether you be an avid collector as I am or you just enjoy the beauty of
art-glass there is a Jack-in-the-Pulpit to suit all pockets. Mostl of the
modern ones command a price of around £30/£75 (US$ 50/125) whereas the high end
of the range
such as Tiffany or Steuben will be in the tens of thousands range. So I can
advise that an item of beauty need not cost a fortune. The inspiration this
flower has given to all artists alike can be seen in other non-glass items,
which depict the flower. A copper sculpture, a tile trivet and even
paperweights are all out there to be added to collections. One can only wonder
at the legacy this natural wild woodland flower has left for all.
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Victorian White Milk Glass Vase.
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Leading Glassmakers who we know have produced this style of vase include:
Stevens & Williams
L.C.Tiffany
Mount Washington
Stuart
Blenko Glass Company
Phoenix Glass Company
Moser
Gundersen
Quetzal Art Glass
Gibson Glass Company
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Thomas Webb & Sons
Steuben Glass
Pairpoint Glass Company
Webb-Corbett
Boston and Sandwich Glass Company
Numerous Czechoslovakian Glassmakers
Various Murano Glassmakers
Imperial Glass Company
Lundberg Studios
Alum Bay Glass
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Fenton Art-Glass
Loetz
Okra Glass
Terry Crider
Glasform
Richardsons
Ozarks Glass
Gibson Glass
Abelman
Mount Joye
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And many, many others who have taken such a style and adapted it to their own
unique style.
The author of this article may be contacted at:
glasswriter@crowfans.net
This article is copyright protected and cannot be used in any form without the
expressed permission of
David M. Issitt the author.
© Copyright 2005 ©
Some of the illustrations within this document are copyright Tony Hayter
(1st.Glass) © Copyright 2005 ©
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