HAWKES FLYING HIGH

Stories & Photos by: Carol J. Perry

As seen in The Antique Shoppe Newspaper, March 2009 

Recent headlines in antiques and collectibles publications told about a rare American Brilliant cut glass decanter which made a remarkable $29,000 at auction I The 11-inch cranberry colored decanter in the Venetian pattern, with embossed sterling silver spout and handle was a creation of T .G. Hawkes and Company of Corning, New York.

So, who was this T.G. Hawkes, and how and when did he happen to create an item of such great worth?

Back in 1880, when Rutherford B. Hayes was in the White House, and Frank Woolworth had opened America's first "five and ten cent store," and Tom Edison had just patented the phonograph, a young Irish immigrant named Thomas Gibbons Hawke opened the doors of the Hawkes Rich Cut Glass Works in Corning, New York.

Hawkes had worked for a decade or so for the glass cutting firm of Hoare & Dailey in Corning but he felt that it was time for him to strike out on his own. He had, after all, a pretty distinguished family background in glass. The Hawkes family was famous in England for quality cut glass, and his Irish forebears included the Penrose family, founders of world-famous Waterford crystal.

Thomas's timing was good. America had developed a fondness for cut glass. Although most cut glass in those days was imported, Thomas was tonfident that he could produce glassware even more beautiful than that which was coming from Europe. He and his designers were determined to make.

Hawkes glassware the richest and finest in America.

Around 1882 the Hawkes factory proudly unveiled a new pattern the called "Russian." Many experts today mark the introduction of this stunning pattern as the point at which American cut glass wares became perhaps the richest in the world, both in workmanship, quality of glass and beauty of design.

This then, was the dawn of the "Brilliant Period." Glassmakers began to use curved lines in cut designs. (Earlier cutting efforts had all utilized only straight lines.) lines grew curvier, cutting deeper and more elaborate. American glassmakers specialized in creating and patenting new geometric designs. The Hawkes Cut Glass Company produced some of the finest and most inspired pieces. For many years only really upscale shops, department stores and jewelry stores sold the "rich cut" glass.

In 1889 the attention of the world was focused on the Paris World Exposition. The Eiffel Tower, one of the most famous engineering constructions of the 19th century was the centerpiece of the event. In the midst of the excitement, a Hawkes cut glass whiskey jug in the Chrysanthemum pattern, took a Grand Prize. Winning the coveted award brought great honor and prestige to the The Hawkes firm, and helped to further establish American glass as a leader on the international stage.

With the advent of electricity Hawkes and other-glass cutting firms took advantage of the improved speed and increased power in cutting tools. Still, much hand labor was needed to produce products which would meet with Thomas Hawkes's approval. Teams of workers were needed to create each piece. In fact, it was the need for such intensive hand labor which brought about the demise of the Brilliant period. Labor costs escalated and World War I began. It was "the beginning of the end" for Brilliant Period cut glass. Tastes were changing too, and the rapid technological developments brought cheaper (albeit Inferior) products into the American marketplace.

Thomas Hawkes died in 1913 and the presidency of the Hawkes Company passed to his son, Samuel.

For another thirty years Samuel continued to run the company. He retired after World War II and Samuel's son Penrose Hawkes tried hard to keep the company afloat. But times had changed too much.

After 1964 the Tiffin Glass Company of Tiffin, Ohio, purchased Hawkes' equipment and the distinctive Hawkes trademark. (Two hawks facing a lieu, de lis, enclosed by a trefoil.) Collectors of American Brilliant period cut glass watch for that trademark at shows, shows and online.

Some current prices for American Brilliant crystal indicates that beauty tends to be pricey. A Hawkes "lemonade Bowl" in the Festoon pattern was offered online for $8850. And a lovely 10 1/2 inch Panel pattern pitcher was valued at $29,850. But comparative bargains are still available. An 1l-inch Hawkes vase books currently for $550. One Internet auction advertised a 10-inch Hawkes vase for $225. At a recent Florida show a handsome cut glass bowl with sawtooth rim, bearing the distinctive Hawkes trademark was marked $285.

If you'd like to learn more about Hawkes, and American Brilliant cut glass in general, ask your librarian or bookseller for:

Official Price Guide to Glassware by Mark Pickvet; The Illustrated Guide to American Glass by Emma Paper; Collector's Guide to Antique American Glass by Marvin Schwartz.

Online go to www.about-antiques.com/american-brilliant-cut-glass-htm.

**NOTE: ANTIQUE SHOPPE NEWSPAPER DOES NOT SELL ANTIQUES OF ANY SORT. WE ARE STRICTLY A PUBLISHING COMPANY AND PRINT ARTICLES ON VARIOUS ANTIQUES**