Banded Portland

By Barb Chamberlain

The Banded Portland pattern was originally made by the Portland Glass Company, which was only in existence from 1863 – 1873. This glass company was located in Portland, Maine. The Banded Portland pattern was number 15071 in their line and has been known by several different names: Virginia, Portland with Diamond Point, and Diamond Banded Portland. There is another similar pattern called Portland, but this pattern has no diamond band around the center.

Banded Portland was originally made in old clear pattern glass in a wide array of shapes. A few different shapes were treated with flashed finishes of maiden’s blush (pinkish), ruby flash, yellow, green, blue, or gold. A few were obviously treated with a watery marigold flashing. It makes you wonder since there were so many different colors of flashing that perhaps some were sprayed at the Portland factory or later at one of the U.S. Glass Companies.

The Banded. Portland covered powder jar shows that diamond banding around the middle of the base and is also repeated on the lid.

This pattern has been claimed as a U.S. Glass Company pattern, but the Portland Glass Company did not become one of the conglomerate companies that operated under U.S. Glass.

We do know that molds traveled from one company to another after companies closed or workers moved to a new company. We know that Portland closed before the carnival glass era, so it is probable that U.S. Glass made the iridized examples of Banded Portland.

In 1904, these plants were added to the U.S. Glass conglomeration: Company D, a gold decorating plant; Company H, a plate-etching plant; and Company U a tank operation in Gas City, IN. Could one of these be the plant that might have done the flashing?

While the Banded Portland toothpick could use a little more iridescence, it is an interesting little piece of carnival glass.

From my research, I could only find that a toothpick holder, a covered powder jar, and perhaps salt shakers were made in iridescent glass.

It’s always fun to look for something a little unusual. Maybe you have a piece of Banded Portland that I haven’t seen – like the shakers. Please email me information at dbcham@iowatelecom.net or 124 E. Honey Creek Dr., Manchester, IA, and include a photo, if possible. We would like to share in future issues of The Carnival Pump.

This article first appeared in the ICGA Pump in the March 2017 issue and is reprinted with permission.