Mt. Washington became noted for fine cut glass during the 1870s, following its move to New Bedford from South Boston, MA. Examples were not signed, however, and patterns were not as well documented as those of the later "rich cut" period. Any early cut piece that can be firmly associated with the company is, therefore, considered important. Let that piece come from the household of Frederick S. Shirley, the agent and animating spirit of the glassworks, and let it be monumental in size and visually spectacular, and you have the prerequisites for a wild curatorial fantasy. But wait, there’s more! Now imagine that a photograph survives to document that piece in use on the dining table of Shirley’s New Bedford home!
In 2005 Frederick Shirley’s granddaughter donated the family’s extensive glass archive (known as the Shirley Papers) to the New Bedford Museum of Glass. She mentioned at the time that she had a large but broken cut glass epergne in the attic that she would donate when she came across it. Fortunately it was soon located, and with it came an amazing photograph showing the epergne in the dining room of Shirley’s house at 68 Russell St, New Bedford. The back of the photograph is inscribed "Dining-room day after Nellie’s wedding." Nellie was Frederick Shirley's daughter, Nellie M. Hathaway (born Nellie Mary Shirley). She was married in New Bedford on October 14, 1903.
According to Shirley's granddaughter the epergne was a treasured heirloom of the family and was assembled only twice a year for use at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It consisted of six pieces of cut glass, some with silver fittings, that slid over or screwed onto the silver and iron central shaft. The shaft, in turn, fit into a turned mahogany base. Sadly, during the assembly of the epergne about 40 years ago the two lowest glass parts were broken and discarded. Family members couldn’t bring themselves to discard the rest of the epergne, despite its compromised condition, so they boxed it up and stored it away.
Fast forward to 2005, when the epergne was donated to NBMOG and museum members Edward Poore and Art Reed volunteered their respective skills at glass cutting and glassblowing to recreate the missing parts. Click Cutting Sequence to see photographs of the cutting process. The shape and pattern of the two parts were determined by careful study of the 1903 photograph. Today, thanks to the generosity of the Shirley family and the craftsmanship of Mr. Poore and Mr. Reed, the Shirley epergne has returned to New Bedford to sparkle again in all its glory.
The Shirley Epergne
The Shirley Epergne
Mt. Washington Glass Co. New Bedford, MA, c. 1880
H. 25"
NBMOG Collection Gift: The Shirley Family
Acc. 2005.214
(below) Blown glass replacement base and stem before cutting; (right) glass artist Art Reed at the furnace of his glass studio, Sweetwater Glass, in Delancy, NY
Epergne partially disassembled
Glass cutter Edward Poore in his cutting shop, the Crystal Workshop, Sagamore, MA
(right) Photograph taken in 1903 showing the epergne in use on Frederick Shirley's dining-room table. Shirley's house still stands at 68 Russell St., New Bedford.
