Duncan Glass is renowned for its outstanding quality and brilliance. However, its glass has been among the lesser documented due, in part, to a fire in 1892 that destroyed all the original records. Despite this handicap, Gail Krause has compiled an excellent A to Z guide to the early patterns produced by Duncan Glass. In fact, this books strengths are the early years before and shortly after the fire. Lavishly illustrated, Ms. Krause s text is a pleasure to read. For example, for the pattern Lacey Dewdrop, Ms. Krause writes:
Lacey Dewdrop or Beaded Jewel was made in the early 1870's and produced by George Duncan and Sons Company. This was made only in clear glass.
In 1902, the CoOperative Glass Company of Beaver Falls purchased the Molds and called their patterns #1902. It was produced in crystal and opal.
Phoenix Glass company of Monaca, Pennsylvania purchased this mold about 1937, later sold them to H.M.Tusca who in turn permitted Westmoreland to produce them in milk glass for the first time. The molds were sent back to Mr. Tusca who was to form them to John Kemple. Unfortunately Mr. Tusca died before his dream was fulfilled and the molds were purchased by John Kemple.
Mr. Kemple was a man of great integrity and in order that the public might know the reproductions, placed the letter K on the bottom of each piece. This is one fact that needs to be stressed is that all the pieces were made by using the original molds of George Duncan.
After the death of Mr. Kemple in 1970, Wheaton Craft bought the molds from Mrs. Kemple and are reproducing in crystal, amber, blue and green. It is an interesting fact that 20 out of 28 molds are being used and have the letters WK on them. W is for Wheaton and the K is for Kemple.
Price: $24.95
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