An Interesting Candlestick

By Kathi & Galen Johnson

In our travels we find some interesting things. We tend to like the unusual, since it often leads to research and more knowledge.

We found a single 9 ¼” tall candlestick in an antique shop. Here are some pictures of the candlestick.

You can see that it has a satin outside (not iridized) and the inside of the ‘bell’ is a watery iridized finish.

It was reasonably priced and piqued our interest! This shape looks like the Diamond ‘Mae West’ pattern (named after the shape, of course), but the finish is like nothing we’ve seen by Diamond.

A quick shout out to David Kastor gave us a direction to search – Felt & Stoer in their ‘Glass Candlestick Book Volume 1’ showed a picture with the advertisement that allows attribution of Duncan & Miller’s #91.

We reached out to Tom Felt asking if we could use this information with the ad photo and quickly got permission.

The book states:

Duncan & Miller Glass Company

No. 91 candlestick. Available in 9” (flared skirt) or 10” (straight skirt). Produced 1917-1927 in crystal. Edmonson Warrin & Co., a decorating company, advertised this candlestick with various sterling silver and enamel designs. Duncan advertised this pattern as ‘Almost as light as blownware,” and stated emphatically that “We have been granted letters patent on this design – the greatest achievement in pressed glass making in the history of the industry – and will prosecute all infringers.” Despite the warning, Diamond Glass Co. (DI-4 on p. 132) and Fostoria Glass Co. both made candlesticks similar to the straight skirt version. Josef Inwald, A.G., of Czechoslovakia, also made a very similar candlestick in the 1920s-1930s.

The ad states:

The “Ninety-One” Line Is Patented

We have been granted letters patent on this design – the greatest achievement in pressed glass making in the history of the industry – and will prosecute all infringers.

Sixty wonderful items – almost as light as blownware. A full line of Stemware and scores of Novelties and Specialties.

Write for Catalog and Price List today

The Duncan & Miller Glass Company

WASHINGTON, PA

And then we got a bonus – Tom believes that he also knows who did the decoration. There was a company called Filkins Studio, Inc. located in Buffalo, NY that had a line of Siebel Jewel Glass that looks like the finish on our candlestick. Their 1922 catalog has the Duncan #91 used to show examples of a candlestick that could be used with a Fostoria shade (top row, far right).

We are the owners of a Duncan Miller #91 candlestick in a Siebel Jewel Glass decoration/finish.

Now what shall we call this color? Any suggestions? Golden oil-spot? Yellow satin?

This article first appeared in the Carnival Glass ACTION (joint publication of Texas Carnival Glass Club and HOACGA) and is reprinted with permission.