Mt. Washington Glass Co.

American, 1837-1900

BiographyMt. Washington Glass Works was founded by Mr. Deming Jarves in 1837 in South Boston, Massachusetts.Mt. Washington glassworks went without an official name and was known as the “Russell’s Glass House” until about 1850. It acquired this name from Luther Russell, the glasshouse superintendent. This small glassworks was located on First Street in Boston. The first official known use of the name Mt. Washington Glass Works was in an 1857 In 1870 the company moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Many types of art glass were made there until 1894, when the company merged with Pairpoint Manufacturing Co. Mount Washington Glass was the second oldest operating glasshouse (now known as Pairpoint Crystal Co.) in the U.S.

Mt. Washington was successful until 1860; from 1861 to 1863, G. D. Jarves & Cormerais were in receivership. In January 1870, Libbey purchased New Bedford Glass Works (built in 1867). Libbey started moving the Mt. Washington operation to New Bedford in November 1869. The New Bedford works originally consisted of one ten-pot furnace and cutting shop of 15 frames. William’s brother, Henry Libbey, invested in the company in 1870 and the company name was changed to W. L. Libbey & Company. In 1871, a stock holding company was formed and incorporated as the Mt. Washington Glass Works. During the years of 1876 through 1881, Mt. Washington produced an extensive line of lighting goods and other glassware. During this time period, Mt. Washington obtained several patents for its glass chimneys. Mt. Washington’s other glass goods consisted of fine cut blown glass and pressed glassware. In 1877, they introduced the first art glass line to Mt. Washington’s production.

They produced Opal glassware Easter eggs in 1878 and introduced Sicilian or Lava Glass. In the latter half of the 1880s, Mt. Washington switched from manufacturing chimneys and pressed glass work to art glass. Rose Amber was introduced during this period. In the fall of 1885, Mt. Washington introduced Burmese art glass, a translucent, heat reactive glass that gradually shades from yellow at the bottom to salmon pink at the top. Mt. Washington is known for this form of glass. From 1886 to 1891, much of Mt. Washington’s production capacity was devoted to the production of Burmese glass. 1885, Shirley applied for a patent for a manufacturing process, which a portion of included MOP (Mother of Pearl) satin glass.

Mt. Washington Glass Company is still producing glass under the Paripoint Crystal Company

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