$100 · Engraved Liqueur Glasses, set of 10

Elegant Watermelon Glass diamond optic wheel engraved liqueur glasses; set of 10, measuring approximately 4 3/8" tall and 1 7/8" across the bowl and base. No nicks or chips. The bases are a green glass while the bowls and "lady leg" stems are a light pink colour. It was this colour combination which led to the term "watermelon glass". These pieces were produced with the "diamond optical" pattern in the bowls, which were then copper wheel engraved with a floral pattern. Elegant watermelon glass is somewhat hard to find, with engraved specimens being even more scarce, since not that much of it was made. They were frequently sold in jewelry stores and used for dinner parties, special occasions, and would have been called “the good glassware”. There were two main types of glass made in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century. Depression Glass was totally machine made and therefore much cheaper to produce and Elegant Glass which was at least partially hand made by skilled craftsmen resulting in a much higher quality glass which although not "perfect" had far fewer flaws. Most had tiny production flaws such as bubble inclusions which are hallmarks of period authenticity. It was costly to produce and for buyers to purchase. Companies that made watermelon glass included Louie Glass Company, Weston Glass Company, and West Virginia Specialty Glass Co., all located in West Virginia, as well as Tiffin Glass, Standard Glass, Cambridge Glass and U.S. Glass, McDonald Glass Works of Pennsylvania, and Fry Glass Company of Rochester, Pennsylvania. All these companies employed highly qualified glass blowers to produce Elegant glassware.