Block and Fan Cruet

By Lee Markley

This Block and Fan pattern was first made by the Richards and Hartley Company of Tarentum, PA. They made the pattern, their #544, in crystal, ruby flashed, and amber flashed during the 1880s. This company joined the U.S. Glass in 1891. Later production was continued, and the carnival glass version of the pattern was made by U.S. Glass.

The cruet stands five and a half inches tall. It was mold blown and has a base diameter of two and one quarter inches. There are three mold lines, and the handle is molded. The stopper used by Richards and Hartley was ribbed. The one on this cruet is flat. The pattern was originally made in a whole range of shapes including a table set, castor set, compotes, and various bowls.

Although you can’t see it too clearly, the fan motif is on the shoulder of the cruet. The blocks below show very plainly, as does the handle with the line of blocks. You can also see the flat top to the stopper.

The design consists of a band of large blocks around the middle. A single row of small blocks is above it. Below it is a double band of the smaller blocks. The handle is composed of a line of blocks from its top to the base. It is plain except for panels that rise from the row of fans on its shoulder. There are eight that hang down; between them the fans are vertical.

There may be other iridized pieces, but none have been reported. This cruet is the first carnival piece found.

Sources: Heacock, William. Encyclopedia of Victorian Colored Pattern Glass. Book Five, U.S. Glass From A to Z.  Encyclopedia of Victorian Colored Pattern Glass, Book Seven, Ruby-Stained Glass From A to Z.  Kamm, Minnie W. A Third Book of Two Hundred Glass Patterns

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