Decorated Opal ware was at the height of its popularity from 1890 to 1910, and the C. F. Monroe Company was one of the largest producers of this type glass. Charles F. Monroe opened his shop first shop in 1880 in Meriden, Connecticut and dealt primarily in imported glassware. By 1882, Monroe was operating his own glass-decorating studio, and was soon employing highly talented local artists as decorators. As is always, the case, public tastes changed, and the demand for decorated Opal Ware began to decline after 1910. The C.F. Monroe Company went out of business in 1916. The Monroe Co. did not manufacture its own glass; rather, it bought its blanks, undecorated glass, from France, Mt. Washington-Pairpoint and possibly other American glass houses.

This is a lovely, round, embossed opal glass decorated pin dish. The heavily embossed glass blank is hand decorated with delicate pink blossoms nestled among gray leaves and twining stems. The top is adorned with an embossed design brass collar. The pin dish measures 4 1/4" across and 1 3/4" in height. Marked with the red company stamp "Wavecrest - The C F M Co. - Trade Mark". There are no cracks, chips or repairs.