Cruet EAPG Almond Thumbprint Bryce Brothers ca 1890

There are two rows of off-setting almond or fingerprint designs. The pattern is known by a number of different names: Almond, Pointed Fingerprint, Pointed Thumbprint, Fingerprint. There are no known reproductions. The pattern was made in an extended table service. (McCain p. 54-55.)

The glass is pressed and heavy. There are the typical manufacturing flaws found in many pieces this old, such as straw marks (caused during the cooling process) and bubbles. Straw marks can appear to be cracks, but are just a manufacturing flaw.

The cruet has been black light tested. The stopper fluoresces green, so it does not appear to be the original stopper. The cruet fluoresces pink indicating the presence of manganese, a chemical used in the glass formula to counteract the discoloration from iron content in the sand used in the glass mixture and to strengthen the glass. Manganese can cause the glass to turn "sun purple" over the years when exposed to the sun; however, this cruet has no discoloration.

Item ID: PW731