Pittsburgh Glass Bar Bottles or Decanters Bakewell Pears & Co. - A Pair

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The Spirit of Pittsburgh: Diamond-Cut Bar Lip Decanters, Circa 1860

This handsome Pair of Mold-blown Bar Lip Decanters is a … Read more The Spirit of Pittsburgh: Diamond-Cut Bar Lip Decanters, Circa 1860

This handsome Pair of Mold-blown Bar Lip Decanters is a fine example of American commercial glass from the mid-19th century, attributed to the renowned Pittsburgh glasshouse of Bakewell, Pears & Co., circa 1860.

These decanters feature the distinct "Bar Lip" finish—a heavy, flanged rim designed to be used without a stopper, facilitating fast and efficient pouring behind a busy saloon counter. The body is decorated with a sharp, well-defined diamond-cut pattern (also known as the Pennsylvania Pattern), which was executed directly from the mold, a technique that gave the heavy glass a brilliant, light-refracting surface similar to expensive hand-cut crystal.

Crafted from clear, brilliant, and heavy glass, the decanters exhibit a strong mold impression and retain a visible rough pontil mark on the plain base, characteristic of the period's production methods.

Dimensions: 10 3/4 inches high (27.3 cm).

Historical Context: American Barware and the Rise of Pittsburgh Glass

These decanters are significant artifacts of American bar culture. During the 1830s to 1875, a period considered the heyday of the Bar Lip Decanter, the style emerged to meet the specific needs of increasingly refined American bars and saloons. As these establishments transitioned from caged "barrel shops" to elegant "drinking palaces" designed to attract a more discerning clientele, they needed visually appealing containers for liquor displayed on open back shelves.

Bakewell, Pears & Co. (operating 1808–1882) was the most famous and oldest glasshouse west of the Allegheny Mountains. Located in Pittsburgh, the firm was celebrated for its high-quality lead or "flint" glass. As pioneers in the glass pressing process, Bakewell produced numerous patterns of pressed wares that mimicked expensive cut glass, with this mold-blown form being a popular predecessor. The variety of patterns, shapes, and sizes (like this Pennsylvania Pattern) helped bartenders swiftly identify the colorless liquors inside. This decanter embodies the marriage of American ingenuity and industrial production that made Pittsburgh the center of the nation's glass industry.

References:

Morrison, Ellen and Bill. "The Rise and Fall of the American Bar Lip Decanter." Early American Pattern Glass Society (EAPGS). (The definitive source for the history and dating of this specific form.)

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. "Benjamin Bakewell." (Historical context for Bakewell, Pears & Co., its founding, movements, and reputation for quality lead glass.)

Palmer, Arlene. Artistry and Innovation in Pittsburgh Glass: 1808–1882: From Bakewell & Encell to Bakewell, Pears & Co. (Essential reference for Bakewell's production methods and patterns.)

(Ref: 5870-imr) See less