Gillinder’s Pioneer Glass Pattern, a Priceless Antique
Posted by BJ Park on May 6th, 2008
When William Gillinder developed his ‘Pioneer’ glass pattern, now called ‘Westward Ho’, he had no idea that it would come to be a prized possession of Glass Pattern antique lovers.
Photo Credit: diongillard
The hallmark of this glass, are the acid etched figures on the tip of the piece, also called the Finial. It consists of a deer, a buffalo, a log cabin with setting sun and a crouching Indian. It was offered for sale by Gillinder in1878, and has become the most famous of all glass patterns.
Gillinder started his glass factory in 1861 in Philadelphia, and called in the Philadelphia Flint Glass works. He advertized all the possible things that could be made in glass, including plain glass, moulded glass, and Flint glass.
Gillinder then relocated to on Howard and Oxford Streets, and was called the Franklin Flin Glass works. In 1865, he was issued a patent called the ‘Cincinnati Patent’, which was for the Cincinnati Pattern.
No. 403 is one of the most complex patterns ever made, combining classical figures, and political figures and acid etching.
The factory used to give free demonstrations of glass blowing, during the Centennial Exhibition which was organized to showcase the country’s recovery from the civil war.