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Dorothy Thorpe

Dorothy Thorpe glassware was a chic staple of every mid-century modern wet bar, paricularly her festive Roly Poly silver-banded tumblers. Although not as widely known as such contemporaries as Eva Zeisel and Edith Heath, Thorpe was one of a group of creative and entrepreneurial women whose designs captured the imagination of the postwar homeowner with her modern and festive designs.

Thorpe was born in Salt Lake City in 1901 and settled in Los Angeles as a young woman. She began creating her signature glassware using the trade name Dorothy Thorpe Originals in the 1930s. Thorpe was a designer, not a glassblower. To create her shimmering wares, she purchased glass blanks from a variety of manufacturers and subjected them to various techniques, including sandblasting, etching and silver overlay. Initially Art Deco in style, the pieces were signed with a large T and smaller D. Thorpe also worked in ceramics and, in the 1940s, with Lucite, producing a line of household items, such as magazine racks, sculptural lamps, candlesticks and umbrella stands.

After World War II, Thorpe was inspired by the new interest in the flowers and animals of the South Pacific to begin incorporating tropical floral motifs into her work. She traveled to Hawaii and studied local irises, roses, azaleas, narcissus and eucalyptus. The decorative patterns based on these studies were created primarily by sandblasting, which makes a glass surface appear frosted. From the 1930s through the ’50s, Thorpe’s designs won her many fans among the members of café society, including Princess Grace of Monaco and the Shah of Iran. They were also widely imitated. Vintage tumblers that bear a silver stripe around the rim but lack the “DT” signature on the bottom are not Thorpe originals.

In the 1950s, Thorpe created the glassware line Atomic Splash, which featured the energetic geometric patterns that were so popular at the time. Atomic Splash patterned drinking glasses and serving dishes bore a silver overlay that evoked an explosion. She also designed a line of ceramic tableware decorated with a wreath of spring flowers in collaboration with Crown Lynn Pottery, in New Zealand, and, in the mid-’60s, created coffee sets for the Santa Barbara and Monterey companies. Among her own ceramics products were lines glazed iin the eye-catching shades Orange Persimmon and Blue Periwinkle.

Average Sold Price
$564
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
1970's Dorothy Thorpe Lucite & Chrome Pretzel Candle Holders Pair
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Lovely pair of Lucite candle holders designed by Dorothy Thorpe, circa 1970's. Exceptional condition with no flaws to note. Both sparkle like jewelry.
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe

Materials

Chrome

Etched Glasses Water Goblet Champagne Flute White Lily by Dorothy Thorpe, Pair
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Elevate your dining experience with this exquisite pair of orchid flower etched glasses, including a water goblet and a champagne flute, both signed by the renowned Dorothy Thorpe. E...
Category

1950s Vintage Dorothy Thorpe

Materials

Glass

Dorothy Thorpe Frosted Lucite Resin Fruit Bowl Mid Century
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
Lovely frosted resin cabbage bowl by Dorothy Thorpe. Signed under the object. Beautiful decorative object. Good condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dorothy Thorpe

Materials

Lucite

Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Etched Glass Platter, Tray Signed by Dorothy Thorpe
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Carved and Etched Glass Platter, Tray Signed Top Corner of the Tray by Dorothy Thorpe
Category

1940s American Vintage Dorothy Thorpe

Materials

Glass

Vintage Dorothy Thorpe design Sterling Silver Rim Glass Salad Plates set of 10
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A set of 10 Dorothy Thorpe design 8in salad or desert plates with a 1/2in sterling silver banded edge. These show some pre-owned use but still very presentable.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dorothy Thorpe

Materials

Glass

Art Glass Serving Plate by Dorothy C Thorpe
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Post War Dorothy Thorpe carved and etched signed glass serving tray, circa the late 1940s.
Category

1940s Vintage Dorothy Thorpe

Materials

Glass

Midcentury Modern Orange & Gold Coffee Tea Lunch Dessert by Dorothy Thorpe, Set
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and rare Midcentury Modern set for eight (8) orange (or persimmon) and gold ceramic dining set by American designer Dorothy C. Thorpe, circa mid-20th century, 1960s. Set ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dorothy Thorpe

Materials

Gold

Single Dorothy Thorpe "Pretzel" Twisted Lucite Candlesticks with Chrome Holders
By Dorothy Thorpe
Located in St. Louis, MO
Classic Dorothy Thorpe twisted Lucite candlestick with nickel plated candle holders. Set does show very few internal age cracks, common with lucite of this age. Excludes candles.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dorothy Thorpe

Materials

Chrome

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Dorothy Thorpe furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Dorothy Thorpe furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Dorothy Thorpe furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Dorothy Thorpe were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Libbey Glass Co., Cera, and Georges Briard. Prices for Dorothy Thorpe furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $60 and can go as high as $6,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $765.
Questions About Dorothy Thorpe
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To identify Dorothy Thorpe glassware, look for her signature. It appears on all sandblasted glassware, as well as some other pieces. The signature should consist of a small D and a larger T. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Dorothy Thorpe on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    How you clean Dorothy Thorpe glassware varies. For most pieces, experts recommend using a gentle dish soap, warm water and a soft sponge. After washing, be sure to dry the glassware thoroughly with a soft microfiber dishcloth. For pieces trimmed in silver, you can typically utilize silver polish to remove tarnishing. However, check the labels of all cleaning products to ensure that they are safe for use on glassware. Find a selection of Dorothy Thorpe serveware and glass on 1stDibs.

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